Air Quality reports and documents

Review and Assessment of Air Quality

We must review and assess air quality under the Environment Act 1995. We work to meet national air quality objectives set out in the UK’s Air Quality Strategy. You can view the strategy on GOV.UK.

Summary of National Air Quality Standards and Objectives

Pollutant	Standard / Objective (UK	Averaging Period	Date₍₁₎
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)	200 μg m^_-3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year	1-hour mean	31 Dec 2005
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)	40 μg m^_-3	Annual mean	31 Dec 2005
Particles (PM₁₀)	50 μg m^_-3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year	24-hour mean	31 Dec 2004
Particles (PM₁₀)	40 μg m^_-3	Annual mean	31 Dec 2004
Particles (PM_2.5)	10 μg m^-3	Annual mean	2040
Particles (PM_2.5)	Target of a 35% reduction in population exposure	3-year mean	2040
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	266 μg m^-3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year	15-minute mean	31 Dec 2005
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	350 μg m^-3 not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year	1-hour mean	31 Dec 2004
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	125 μg m^-3mot to be exceeded more than 3 times a year	24-hour mean	31 Dec 2004

Note: (1) Date by which to be achieved by and maintained thereafter

The whole borough was declared an Air Quality Management Area in 2000.

Air quality has improved across Kensington and Chelsea since 2015. However, nitrogen dioxide is still a problem on busy roads, and particulate matter affects wider areas across the borough.

Improving air quality and reducing people’s exposure to pollution remains a challenge locally, across London and nationally.

Our Air Quality Action Plan explains what we are doing to improve air quality. Each year, we review our progress and assess whether we are meeting national objectives.

You can find our annual reports below.