Air Quality reports and documents

Review and Assessment of Air Quality

Under the Environment Act 1995, the Council is required by the Government to review and assess air quality and to work towards meeting national air quality objectives.  These are set out in the National Air Quality Strategy and contained in the table below. To view a copy of the strategy, visit the Defra website.

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 (PM2.5) 10 μg m-3 Annual mean 2040
Particles (PM2.5) 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-3 mot 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 of the Royal Borough was declared as an Air Quality Management Area in 2000. Huge improvements in air quality have been achieved across Kensington and Chelsea since 2015.  Despite this, like other areas of London, nitrogen dioxide remains an issue along the borough’s busier roads and particulate matter continues to affect wider areas. Consequently, reducing emissions of these pollutants as well as our exposure to poor air quality remains a great challenge locally, across London, nationally and internationally.  We have produced an Air Quality Action Plan which sets out how we intend to improve air quality.  Every year, we look at the progress we have made and whether we are achieving the National Air Quality Objectives. Our annual reports can be found below.

Air Quality Action Planning

Annual Reports

Air Quality Progress Report 2014 [PDF] (file size 1.9Mb)

Air Quality Progress Report 2013 [PDF] (flie size 1.5Mb)

Updating and Screening Assessment and Action Plan Update 2012 [PDF] (file size 898Kb)

Local Air Quality Management Progress Report 2011 [PDF] (warning: large file size 2.7Mb)

Local Air Quality Management Progress Report 2010 [PDF] (warning: large file size 2Mb)

Air Quality Updating and Screening Assessment 2009 [PDF] (warning: large file size 2Mb)

Local Air Quality Management Progress Report 2008 [PDF] (file size 818Kb)

Local Air Quality Management Progress Report 2007 [PDF] (file size 750Kb)

Air Quality Progress Report 2007 – Local Air Quality Management Report Glossary and Appendix [PDF] (file size 422Kb)

Updating and Screening Assessment and Action Plan Update 2006 [PDF] (file size 761Kb)

Local Air Quality Management Progress Report 2005 [PDF] (file size 861Kb)

Updating and Screening Assessment [PDF] (warning: large file size 1.48Mb)

Stage Four Review and Assessment [PDF] (warning: large file size 1.86Mb)

Air Quality Report 2004 [PDF] (file size 222Kb)

Air Quality Report 2003 [PDF] (file size 314Kb)

Air Quality Report 2002 [PDF] (file size 256Kb)

Air Quality Report 2001 [PDF] (file size 617Kb)

Air Quality Report 2000 [PDF] (file size 329Kb)

Last updated: 4 October 2023