Implementing the National Air Quality Strategy in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The Environment Act introduced in 1995 has profound implications for tackling air quality problems in urban areas in the UK. For the first time, a National Air Quality Strategy is specified which makes it a statutory duty from April 1997 for local authorities to assess and manage air quality within their area. The legislation requires local authorities to review air quality periodically and to identify areas where new national and EU air quality standards are not being met or may not be met in the future. These areas are to be designated Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and a local authority, in consultation with county and neighbouring local authorities, has to outline what transport, land use planning and other measures will need to be implemented to ensure air quality standards will be met by 2005. This paper examines the problems facing local authorities in reviewing local air quality, defining AQMAs and selecting appropriate and effective management strategies and measures to attain and sustain healthy air quality.