Air quality

Clean air is essential for a good quality of life.

We monitor air quality around our area and are working to improve it.

The main source of air pollution in South Gloucestershire is road traffic. Other significant sources are industrial facilities and the burning of fuel for heating.

Improving air quality

There are lots of steps we can take to improve the quality of the air we breathe. You can find information on how to reduce pollution when travelling and at home below.

Travel

Emissions can be easily reduced by swapping some of our trips in the car for walking, cycling or taking public transport.

To help improve our air quality when you are travelling by car you could:

  • consider sharing lifts
  • get more out of the fuel you buy and minimise pollution by eco-driving
  • care for your car with regular servicing, changing the oil and checking tyre inflation to reduce your car’s emissions
  • travel outside of peak hours
  • switch to a less polluting car model such as an electric or hybrid vehicle

At home

To improve air quality around your home you could:

  • check your boiler: if it is over 10 years old consider upgrading to a more efficient model with lower nitrogen oxide emissions
  • choose environmentally friendly ways to dispose of garden waste such as home composting or taking it to a tip or recycling centre instead of burning
  • avoid solid fuel burners such as stoves or fireplaces: if you do choose to use one, make sure you are following best practice

You can find more information on where air pollution comes from and what we can do to reduce it on GOV.UK’s air quality explained page or the Clean Air Hub.

Smoke control areas

Smoke control areas are where it is illegal to allow smoke emissions from chimneys. In these areas you can only burn authorised fuels in approved appliances.

Many parts of the UK are smoke control areas including parts of South Gloucestershire.

Air quality data

You can find information about the air quality in your area by visiting the:

UK air quality’s data for the current year is direct from monitors and has not been corrected to account for monitor drift or equipment failures. It is for information only.

Our air quality reports

We produce detailed reports about the air quality in South Gloucestershire.

View our air quality annual reports for:

View our summaries of these reports for:

You can contact us for reports before this time.

Air quality management areas

We are responsible for identifying local air quality problems and taking action to tackle them.

We review and assess air quality within our area to determine if we are likely to achieve the targets set in UK legislation. In areas where we think we will not meet a target, we have to declare an air quality management area (AQMA).

We must then prepare an action plan to improve air quality in the area.

Kingswood to Warmley and Staple Hill air quality management areas

There are 2 air quality management areas currently declared in South Gloucestershire. These are Kingswood to Warmley along the main A420 road and in Staple Hill town centre. This is because the annual average target of 40 µg/m3 for nitrogen dioxide has not been met.

View the air quality management areas on each of the maps below:

You can find more information on the Kingswood to Warmley and Staple Hill AQMAs below, along with information on previous AQMAs.

Further information

Air quality management areas were first declared Kingswood and Staple Hill town centres in 2010.

The Kingswood and Staple Hill air quality management areas were extended in 2012 following further assessment. We produced an action plan to improve the air quality in these AQMAs in 2012.

In 2015 the Kingswood to Warmley air quality management area was declared, extending the 2012 Kingswood AQMA along the A420 corridor east to Warmley.

This followed a detailed assessment in 2014 which found new locations along the A420 where the nitrogen dioxide annual average target was being exceeded.

Previous air quality management areas

The Cribbs Causeway air quality management area adjacent to the M5 Junction 17 roundabout was declared in 2010. It was revoked in July 2020 following Defra’s recommendation and public consultation. We will continue to monitor in this location and review the results.

View the former Cribbs Causeway air quality management area.

An air quality management area was also previously declared 110 metres either side of the M4, M5, M32 and M49 motorways within South Gloucestershire in November 2001 but this was revoked in March 2004.

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Hambrook A4174 ring road air quality scheme

Information on the Hambrook A4174 ring road air quality scheme is available on the Hambrook lights traffic restrictions webpage.

Clean air strategy

We produced a clean air strategy in 2020 and have consulted on a new draft clean air action plan.

The consultation closed on 31 January 2023 and the outcome will be published on the consultation webpage.

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