Defra reviews guidelines on managing air quality

Local authorities will be able to use this guidance when assessing and implementing measures to improve air quality in their area.

The practice guidance includes information on:

• principles for the assessment of local measures to improve air quality;

• low emission zones (including examples of where these have been successfully introduced);

• measures to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles (a measure in the UK Air Quality Strategy 2007); and

• measures to encourage the uptake of retro fitted abatement equipment to vehicles.

Environment Minister Lord Hunt has written to all local authorities in England on the role they will play in improving local air quality and meeting the UK’s commitments to EU air quality limit valies.

The devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will prepare their own policy for their local authorities.

The revised policy guidance and new practice guidance documents apply to local authorities in England and can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/guidance/index.htm