Air quality reports

The Council is required to submit regular reports on air quality to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The reports are part of the review and assessment process which was a statutory duty under the Local Air Quality Management process, under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. This required each local authority to review and assesses the air quality within its geographical area against the standards and objectives given in the Air Quality Regulations 1997.

Reports on air quality and their purpose

• First Stage Review and Assessment of Air Quality in Richmond: To identify which of the seven key pollutants require detailed monitoring and modelling.
• Second Stage Review and Assessment of Air Quality in Richmond: To assess which of the three key pollutants from the stage 1 review require further assessment.
• Third Stage Review and Assessment of Air Quality in Richmond: The third stage of the review and assessment process requires a detailed assessment of both current air quality and future air quality across the Council's geographical area for those pollutants identified from stage 2 i.e. nitrogen dioxide and particulates.
• Fourth Stage Review and Assessment of Air Quality in Richmond: To confirm the need to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) due to elevated nitrogen dioxide and particulate concentrations.
• Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP): Actions to improve the air quality within the AQMA.
• Update and Screening Assessments: Regular updates on air quality outside the AQMA.
• Air Quality Reports: Regular updates on air quality within the AQMA and implementation of the AQAP measures