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Local authority AQMA designation
Since 1997 all local authorities have been carrying out reviews and assessments of air quality. If this monitoring highlights areas where the national air quality objectives are unlikely to be met, under the Environment Act 1995 they are required to designate an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). These areas can range in size from one street to very large urban expanses. The local authority is then required to prepare and act on a Local Air Quality Action Plan, to improve air quality in these areas, to protect public health.
As the majority of local authorities have now designated at least one AQMA, the IES/IAQM decided to investigate the different approaches taken to designation by different authorities. On the map below local authority (LA) areas in England, Scotland and Wales are shaded according to the percentage of the total LA area which is designated as an AQMA. This information was collected through a Freedom of Information request in 2014, to which 204 responses were received.
View the full results