Local air quality management
This page sets out information on North Devon Council’s legal responsibilities for managing air quality throughout the district.
Please note that we are reviewing the content in this page and will update it during Spring 2008.
Background
Part IV of the Environment Act 1995
introduced the concept of local air quality management (LAQM). Local authorities, like North Devon Council, are required to review and assess local air quality against national standards and objectives. North Devon Council is required to take a far more proactive role in assessing and controlling air quality within their area.
The national air quality strategy
Central government published the most recent Air Quality Strategy
in July 2007. The strategy:
This page sets out information on North Devon Council’s legal responsibilities for managing air quality throughout the district.
Please note that we are reviewing the content in this page and will update it during Spring 2008.
Background
Part IV of the Environment Act 1995
The national air quality strategy
Central government published the most recent Air Quality Strategy
- sets out a way forward for work and planning on air quality issues
- sets out the air quality standards and objectives to be achieved
- introduces a new policy framework for tackling fine particles
- identifies potential new national policy measures which modelling indicates could give further health benefits and move closer towards meeting the strategy’s objectives
The 2000 Air Quality Strategy set air quality standards and objectives for eight key air pollutants to be achieved between 2003 and 2008. For seven of these pollutants local authorities are charged with the task of working towards the objectives in a cost-effective way.
The air quality standards set out in the strategy are based purely on medical evidence of the effects of the particular pollutants on health and represent the minimum or no significant effect levels. These are based on the advice of the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) or upon EU limit values derived from World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline values.
Our role in the strategy is to make a judgement on whether the air quality objectives are likely to be met by the relevant deadline. Where objectives are not likely to be met we are required to designate an air quality management area (AQMA) at the relevant locations. N.B. - at this time there are no AQMA's in the NDC area.
The air quality objectives are set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000
and the Air Quality (England) Amendment Regulations 2002
, and are set out below.
Table 1 - National air quality standards and objectives as outlined in regulations.

Review and assessment of air quality
Where current and likely future local air quality are not likely to meet national standards, then we are required to designate an AQMA at the relevant locations. We must then draw up an action plan setting out the measures it intends to take in pursuit of the air quality objectives with the area covered by the AQMA.
The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sets out further guidance
.
The timetable for local air quality reviews and assessment in England is set out in regulations and is described in table 2.
Table 2 – Recommended timescales for submissions of reviews and assessments and progress reports for local authorities
The air quality standards set out in the strategy are based purely on medical evidence of the effects of the particular pollutants on health and represent the minimum or no significant effect levels. These are based on the advice of the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) or upon EU limit values derived from World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline values.
Our role in the strategy is to make a judgement on whether the air quality objectives are likely to be met by the relevant deadline. Where objectives are not likely to be met we are required to designate an air quality management area (AQMA) at the relevant locations. N.B. - at this time there are no AQMA's in the NDC area.
The air quality objectives are set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000
Table 1 - National air quality standards and objectives as outlined in regulations.

Review and assessment of air quality
Where current and likely future local air quality are not likely to meet national standards, then we are required to designate an AQMA at the relevant locations. We must then draw up an action plan setting out the measures it intends to take in pursuit of the air quality objectives with the area covered by the AQMA.
The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sets out further guidance
The timetable for local air quality reviews and assessment in England is set out in regulations and is described in table 2.
Table 2 – Recommended timescales for submissions of reviews and assessments and progress reports for local authorities
| LAQM activity | Completion date | Which authorities? |
| Updating and screening assessment (USA) | End of May 2003 | All authorities |
| Detailed assessment | End of April 2004 | Those authorities which have identified the need for on in their May 2003 USA |
| Progress report | End of April 2004 | Those authorities which identified that there was no need for a detailed assessment in their May 2003 USA |
| Progress report | End of April 2005 | All authorities |
| USA | End of April 2006 | All authorities |
| Detailed assessment | End of April 2007 | Those authorities which have identified the need for on in their April 2006 USA |
| Progress report | End of April 2007 | Those authorities which identified that there was no need for a detailed assessment in their April 2006 USA |
| Progress report | End of April 2008 | All authorities |
| USA | End of April 2009 | All authorities |
| Detailed assessment | End of April 2010 | Those authorities which have identified the need for on in their April 2009 USA |
| Progress report | End of April 2010 | Those authorities which identified that there was no need for a detailed assessment in their April 2009 USA |
Local air quality monitoring
Please note that we are reviewing the content in this page and will update it during Spring 2008.
The last local air quality review and assessment reports for North Devon district are below.
- Broad Street, South Molton-Roadside
- Hollowtree Road, Newport, Barnstaple-Roadside
- Cedars Roundabout, Barnstaple-Roadside
- Sticklepath School, Barnstaple-Background
- Alexandra Road, Barnstaple-Roadside
- Medical Centre, Vicarage St., Barnstaple-Intermediate
- Pilton Causeway, Barnstaple-Roadside
- High Street, Ilfracombe-Roadside
- Church Street, Ilfracombe-Roadside
- The Square, Braunton-Roadside
- Prixford, Barnstaple- Roadside
- West Yelland, Barnstaple-Roadside
- Lower Sticklepath Roundabout, Barnstaple-Roadside
- Rolle Street, Barnstaple-Roadside
Further Information
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre

- DEFRA - air quality

- Environmental Protection UK

- Environmental Transport Association

- UK air pollution forecast

To contact the Customer Service Centre:
Telephone: 01271 388870
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Fax: 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk
Textphone (callers must have Typetalk compatible equipment; this number does not support voice communication or SMS): 01271 388786 (during our normal working hours)
Web form: send us a web enquiry
Our office hours are 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
For further information see the Environmental Health service contact page

