Air Quality

Air Quality reports and data

We have a statutory duty to monitor local air quality and take steps to improve it where it does not meet the national air quality objectives set by national government UK Air Quality Limits - Defra, UK.

Air Quality Monitoring

We assess how we are meeting the nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) air quality objective through diffusion tube monitoring. This is done through a network of diffusion tubes across West Northamptonshire that sample the concentration of gases in the air. 

The information is then analysed at an external laboratory. This is one of the monitoring methods approved by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  

The current locations of diffusion tubes can be found on our mapping system. Click on the Map Features and Tools Menu on the top left. The Map Features tab, Environment tab and the tabs available to view will become visible.

The air quality objective for PM₁₀, the larger particles, and the national target for PM_2.5, the smaller particles, is assessed by national government, not the Council.

A proportion of the PM that people in the UK are exposed to comes from naturally occurring sources such as pollen and sea spray, and some are transported to the UK from other European countries or international shipping. 

Around half of UK concentrations of PM comes from domestic wood burning and tyre and brake wear from vehicles. Measures to reduce this include UK national policies, choosing cleaner transportation and heating

Find more information on Particulate matter.

Annual Status Report (ASR)

We are required by DEFRA to produce an Annual Status Report that summarises the air quality in our area. 

The ASR 2023 which reported on data from 2022, and subsequently the draft AQAP, was found to have some data inaccuracies for the Towcester area. It was removed from this webpage until the situation was clarified. 

An administrative error resulted in incorrect historical data being carried forward into subsequent years. This affected the Towcester data only. It has now been checked and corrected. 

The inaccuracies did not make a significant difference as the nitrogen dioxide levels were already below what would exceed air quality objective standards.

In addition, we have noticed an error in 2022 data for tube location 4 in the Victoria Promenade AQMA2. A data input error in the month of February 2022 resulted in a higher-than-expected annual mean result of 51 mg/m³ per cubic metre of Nitrogen dioxide.

However, given this is a COVID-19 affected year that DEFRA require us to exclude from looking at data trends, the error has not been corrected for transparency.

The ASR 2024, reporting on data from 2023, has been submitted to DEFRA and approved. The incorrect data in the ASR 2023 will not be corrected nor a corrected report posted retrospectively. The data inaccuracies are highlighted in the ASR 2024 and the AQAP going forwards. 

You can view our ASR for 2024 below:

Grant Funding for Specific Air Quality Work

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has been successful in its bid to secure funds as part of the Government’s £10.1 million project towards air quality improvement.

There are 2 ongoing projects:

Traffic Management Project

In March 2022, DEFRA awarded WNC £148,297 to undertake an active traffic management project in Northampton. 

The project aims to reduce congestion through active traffic management on the affected road network in and around our AQMA’s. 

It hopes to influence public behaviour through the provision of public information messages.  

The project has installed 20 automatic continuous sensor air quality measurement units on congested routes.

This provides data that integrates directly with real time traffic management systems.

Check air pollution in your area. 

Currently, LED signs in the Kingsthorpe and St James area are displaying messages to motorists when traffic and pollution levels are higher such as rush hours. 

They may read, “Congestion, use other routes” or “Turn off your engine to reduce pollution”. 

We will review the success of these messages in reducing emissions in the coming months.

Please note that this data is not in line with what DEFRA requires to assess compliance with air quality objectives, or the national government targets on particulate matter. Its purpose is active traffic management only, and the data should not be used for other reasons.

Domestic Fuel Burning

In March 2023 WNC was awarded £292,378 by DEFRA to carry out air pollution monitoring. This was to gather information on the prevalence of solid fuel combustion in domestic properties, as well as perceptions on what, why, when and how we burn solid fuels in our rural and urban areas. 

We will also support residents in making a difference to their health and reducing emissions by using other, cleaner fuels and heating sources where possible. This project is expected to start in Autumn/Winter 2024.

Air Quality Guide for Developers

Air Quality and Emissions Mitigation Guidance for Developers was produced in conjunction with the East Midlands Air Quality Network. It has become Supplementary Planning Guidance following public consultation in the former sovereign South Northants area. 

It was also incorporated into the former Northampton Borough’s Low Emission Strategy. 

As part of the AQAP we will be looking to extend this across West Northamptonshire, so that all developers are consistently responsible for reducing their impact on air quality. 

For more information, please contact [email protected]. 

Last updated 14 November 2024