Air Quality Strategy and Planning Protocol

Local Authorities have a duty under the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess local air quality in their Districts against a set of health based air quality objectives for benzene, 1-3 butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, sulphur dioxide nitrogen dioxide and fine particulates (PM₁₀). Where exceedances of the objectives are identified Air Quality Management Areas have to be declared and Action Plans prepared the aim of which is to reduce the concentration of that pollutant to below the objective.

All of the local authorities in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have signed up to a joint Air Quality Strategy and Planning Protocol the purpose of which is to secure improvements in air quality.

It enables consistency in developing a more holistic and unified approach to managing local air quality if the importance of good air quality local air quality management, declaration of any Air Quality Management Areas, monitoring and methods. Indeed, the group originated out of a desire to collaborate on an initial First Stage Air Quality Review and Assessment in 1998, following the new duty being placed on local authorities.

The Strategy and Planning Protocol will assist all those with a stake in improving air quality within Herefordshire and Worcestershire taking a common approach, this unified approach is necessary if the importance of good air quality is to be recognised in the Regional Spatial Strategy, the Local Area Agreements (LAAs), Local Transport Plans (LTP’s) and general development planning.