Air pollution: outdoor air quality and health

Include air pollution in 'plan making' by all tiers of local government, in line with the Department for Communities and Local Government's National Planning Policy Framework. This includes county, district and unitary authorities, as well as regional bodies and transport authorities. The Local Plan and other strategic planning processes (such as the core strategy, local transport plan, environment and health and wellbeing strategies) should include zero- and low-emission travel, for example cycling and walking (see the section on walking and cycling and NICE's guideline on physical activity: walking and cycling). Other strategies for zero- and low-emission travel could include:

• Providing charge points for electric vehicles in workplaces, commercial developments and residential areas.

• Supporting car sharing schemes or car clubs.

When 'plan making' consider:

• siting and designing new buildings, facilities and estates to reduce the need for motorised travel

• minimising the exposure of vulnerable groups to air pollution by not siting buildings (such as schools, nurseries and care homes) in areas where pollution levels will be high

• siting living accommodation away from roadsides

• avoiding the creation of street and building configurations (such as deep street canyons) that encourage pollution to build up where people spend time

• including landscape features such as trees and vegetation in open spaces or as 'green' walls or roofs where this does not restrict ventilation

• including information in the plan about how structures such as buildings and other physical barriers will affect the distribution of air pollutants.

If the local plan does not address air pollution, consider developing local guidance (such as supplementary planning documents, see the Department for Communities and Local Government information on local plans) on how to design buildings and spaces to improve local air quality until the local plan is amended.

Consider ways to mitigate road-traffic-related air pollution. This could include:

• Taking action to reduce the number of motorised trips. For instance, by:

  • incorporating air quality outcomes in travel plans

  • developing local parking plans

  • supporting car clubs

  • supporting active travel (see NICE's guideline on physical activity: walking and cycling).

• Supporting the use of zero- and low-emission vehicles for instance, by providing charging facilities for electric vehicles.

• Managing street trees and vegetation to reduce the risk of restricting street ventilation, where this may contribute to poor air quality (for instance, by the choice of species, siting and pruning regimes).

In consultation with local communities, consider including air quality monitoring and measures to reduce road-traffic-related emissions in the Regulation 123 list of funding options for using the Community Infrastructure Levy (see the Planning Portal information on the Community Infrastructure Levy).

Consider introducing a clean air zone that:

• includes restrictions or charges on certain classes of vehicle

• supports zero- and low-emission travel (including active travel)

• includes targets to progressively reduce pollutant levels below EU limits and aim to meet World Health Organization air quality guidelines

• aims to reduce exposure to air pollution across the whole zone rather than focusing on air pollution hotspots.

Identify which classes of vehicles to restrict or charge in a clean air zone (see recommendation 1.3.1) based on an understanding of local conditions (such as local sources of road-traffic-related pollution and factors influencing dispersion). Use nationally recognised vehicle types (such as the Euro classification for diesel and petrol vehicles).

Work across local authority boundaries to address regional air pollution and prevent migration of traffic and emissions to other communities, resulting in areas of poor air quality.

Consider support for zero- and low-emission travel. This could include:

• Encouraging walking and cycling (see NICE's guideline on physical activity: walking and cycling).

• Encouraging uptake of zero- and low-emission vehicles, for instance:

  • Providing electric charging points.

  • Encouraging public and private sector organisations to use zero- or low-emission vehicles for deliveries to retail, office, residential or other sites in the zone, particularly for the last mile of deliveries in city centres.

• Developing integrated public transport networks (including park and ride schemes) based on low-emission vehicles.

Consider taking action to reduce emissions within the clean air zone. For instance:

• Introducing fuel-efficient driving initiatives including:

  • Bylaws and other action to support 'no vehicle idling' areas, particularly where vulnerable groups congregate (such as outside schools, hospitals and care homes) and in areas where exposure to road-traffic-related air pollution is high.

  • Driver training to reduce emissions (see the section on reducing emissions from public sector transport services and vehicle fleets).

  • Actions to smooth traffic flow (see the section on smooth driving and speed reduction).

• Action to minimise congestion caused by delivery schedules.

• Using a fleet recognition scheme (such schemes help fleet operators improve efficiency by reducing fuel consumption and emissions: the system recognises operators who meet best operational standards).

• Addressing emissions from public sector transport activities (see the section on reducing emissions from public sector transport services and vehicle fleets).

• Specifying emission standards for private hire and other licensed vehicles.

Where traffic congestion is contributing to poor air quality, consider incorporating a congestion charging zone within the clean air zone.

Consider monitoring outside the zone to identify whether its implementation is causing problems in terms of traffic composition and flow. If so, address any issues identified. For instance, by changing the boundaries to address increased pollution at the margins of the zone or problems caused by diversion of traffic.

Assess the impact of any proposed charges (including exemptions for zero- and low-emission vehicles) on vulnerable groups.

Consider promoting a smooth driving style by using:

• speed limits and average speed technology on the roadside

• real-time information to tell drivers what the current optimum driving speed is

• 20 mph limits without physical measures to reduce speeds in urban areas where average speeds are already low (below around 24 mph) to avoid unnecessary accelerations and decelerations

• signs that display a driver's current speed to reduce unnecessary accelerations.
  
  See also recommendations 1.4.1 and 1.4.2.

Where physical speed reduction measures are used to reduce road danger and injuries (20 mph zones – see NICE's guideline on unintentional injuries on the road), consider using them to encourage drivers to maintain a reduced, steady pace along the whole stretch of road, rather than road humps that may increase acceleration- and braking-related emissions.

Provide support for active travel (see NICE's guidelines on physical activity: walking and cycling and physical activity and the environment).

Provide a choice of cycle routes, including routes that avoid highly polluted roads. Ideally use quiet streets or segregated routes.

Where busy roads are used consider:

• Providing as much space as possible between the cyclist and motorised vehicles.

• Using dense foliage to screen cyclists from motor vehicles, without stopping air pollution from dispersing or reducing the visibility or safety of cyclists near junctions. Also take into account concerns about personal safety.

• Reducing the time cyclists spend at highly polluted sites, including some junctions, where this can be done without increasing the time that other groups spend exposed to poor air quality.

Base actions to raise awareness of road-traffic-related air pollution (and so change people's behaviour) on NICE's guidelines on:

• behaviour change (general approaches)

• behaviour change (individual approaches)

• community engagement (in particular, the section on a local approach to making community engagement an integral part of health and wellbeing initiatives).

Ensure healthcare professionals are aware that information on air quality is available, what it means for patients and what actions are recommended.

Consider providing information on air quality (using the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Daily Air Quality Index) with weather forecasts and the pollen index. This could be provided through local, national and social media.

Consider providing information on:

• How health is affected by exposure to air pollutants in the long term as well as during specific periods of poor air quality.

• The impact of local pollution on air quality inside, as well as outside, a vehicle (levels of pollution are not always lower inside).

• How to reduce air pollutants and people's exposure, including the need to:

  • Reduce the number of motor vehicle journeys, if possible.

  • Drive in a style that minimises emissions by: avoiding rapid accelerations and decelerations, restricting the time spent with an engine 'idling' and ensuring the vehicle is correctly maintained (see the Energy Saving Trust's driving advice).

  • Change routes to avoid highly polluted areas and adding to traffic congestion.

Consider public awareness initiatives such as car-free days or National Clean Air Day to raise awareness of air pollution.

Consider giving businesses information on how they can reduce road-traffic-related air pollution and improve fuel efficiency. For example, they could:

• help their drivers develop an energy-efficient driving style (see the section on reducing emissions from public sector transport services and vehicle fleets)

• schedule deliveries to minimise congestion

• encourage employees to cycle to work (see NICE's guideline on physical activity: walking and cycling).