Air quality improves at pollution hotspots in Leeds

Leeds City Council has now formally revoked five of its Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) – neighbourhoods previously identified as failing to meet clean air standards – after comprehensive monitoring has shown air quality to be within the UK guidelines for a number of years.  

The five areas are:

• Ebor Gardens in Burmantofts,
• Caspar Apartments in Little London,
• The Normans in Kirkstall,
• The Tilburys in Holbeck; and,
• Chapel Hill in Morley.

The AQMAs were initially declared between 2001 and 2017 as areas where the annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels exceeded legal limits.

A sixth AQMA, covering Main Street in Pool-in-Wharfedale, met air quality objectives for the first time in 2023 so will remain in place to allow for continued assessment. Monitoring will also continue at the locations of the revoked AQMAs for the foreseeable future to ensure levels stay compliant.

Nitrogen dioxide is mainly from vehicle exhaust emissions and all AQMA areas were close to busy roads.

Air pollution is one of the biggest threats to public health in the UK and consistent exposure can cause breathing difficulties and other long-term lung and heart conditions.

Changing travel behaviours, a rise in the use of electric vehicles and major highways improvements are among factors likely to have contributed to the city’s healthier air.

They are some of a number of schemes progressed by Leeds City Council over recent years to tackle pollution from homes, transport and businesses as part of its Air Quality Strategy Action Plan.

Greener travel methods introduced in the city so far include electric bin lorries, retrofitting of buses with cleaner technology, a public bike-sharing scheme and improving infrastructure for cyclists and walkers in line with the Connecting Leeds Strategy.

Collaborative working with the city-wide Leeds Air Pollution and Health Group (LAPHG) has also helped provide a more in-depth picture of the city’s air pollution sources, trends and impacts and a greater understanding of where to target work.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “It is fantastic news that air quality in some of our most congested areas has improved to such an extent that these AQMAs – some of which date back over 20 years – have now been formally revoked.

“This continues the long-term trend in Leeds where air quality has significantly improved in recent years, thanks to a truly city-wide effort, which has seen major changes in travel and transport as well advances in air quality monitoring and a focus on public health outcomes.

“Breathing in polluted air can lead to serious and long-lasting health problems and it has long been our priority to tackle this critical issue and protect the health of everyone in the city.

“We know there are no truly ‘safe’ levels of air pollution and lower levels of air pollution inside and outside of buildings still pose a health challenge to vulnerable people.

“It is vitally important that we all do what we can to improve air quality. As a council we will lead by example and – through our ambitious and wide-ranging Leeds Air Quality Strategy – continue to drive down pollution levels further to make Leeds a healthier, better place to live.”