Air quality
Air quality is generally good in South Cambridgeshire, with short and long-term pollution levels below the national guidelines.
We monitor the air quality through our monitoring network which includes:
- diffusion tubes
- 3 air quality sensors
- 3 continuous monitoring stations
You can get live information by checking the air quality and monitoring sites details.
Local Air Quality Management
Where we consider that air quality targets are unlikely to be achieved, we must declare this as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). The AQAP sets out measures that will be put in place to help achieve air quality goals.
We must meet the objectives detailed in the table below:
|
Pollutant |
Air Quality Objective Concentrations in microgram (µg) per cubic meter (m3) |
Air Quality Objective: Measured as |
|
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) |
200µg/m3 not to go above this limit more than 18 times a year |
1-hour mean |
|
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) |
40µg/m3 |
Annual mean |
|
Particulate Matter (PM10) |
50µg/m3, not to go above this limit more than 35 times a year |
24-hour mean |
|
Particulate Matter (PM10) |
40µg/m3 |
Annual mean |
|
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
350µg/m3, not to go above this limit more than 24 times a year |
1-hour mean |
|
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
125µg/m3, not to go above this limit more than 3 times a year |
24-hour mean |
|
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
266µg/m3, not to go above this limit more than 35 times a year |
15-minute mean |
- Annual status report 2023 [PDF, 1.5MB] [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Annual status report 2022 [PDF, 1.5MB] [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Annual status report 2021 [PDF, 2MB] [PDF, 2MB]
- Annual status report 2020 [PDF, 2MB] [PDF, 2MB]
If you need previous reports please send a request to air.quality@scambs.gov.uk
Air Quality Strategy
The Air Quality Strategy [PDF, 0.6MB] [PDF, 0.6MB] outlines our approach going forward to monitor, maintain and where needed improve local air quality across the district.
Short-term monitoring
Zephyr air quality sensors are used for short-term air quality studies. These sensors are compact and light and help to measure pollutants in real-time. They are usually powered by a solar panel in a fixed place, but can also be used as mobile monitors.
Live data from these sensors, along with a map of the locations, can be viewed on our Public Air Quality Portal.
The first pilot studies carried out were looking into air quality around schools. The major reason for investigating air quality around primary schools is that children are amongst the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution traffic.
The completed reports are:
- Harston Zephyr report [PDF, 1.5MB] [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Cambourne Zephyr report [PDF, 2MB] [PDF, 2MB]
- Northstowe Zephyr report [PDF, 1.5MB] [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Swavesey Zephyr report [PDF, 1.5MB] [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Histon Zephyr report [PDF, 1.5MB] [PDF, 1.5MB]
Low Emission Strategy and air quality in planning
Air quality plays a key role in planning applications for major developments.
A Low Emission Strategy (LES) will need to be submitted alongside planning applications for major developments that need a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, or developments that have significant transport implications. This is outlined in the 2018 South Cambridgeshire Local Plan.
A LES puts into place measures to help reduce the transport impacts of development on local air quality and on climate change. They complement other design and mitigation options, such as travel planning and the provision of public transport infrastructure. Strategies are often secured through a combination of planning conditions and planning obligations. They may incorporate policy measures and/or require financial investments and contributions to the delivery of low emission transport projects and plans; this includes strategic monitoring and assessment activities.
Full details of when a LES can be found in the Greater Cambridge Sustainable Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Document.