Date published: 2026-09-07 | Category: Delivering for local residents, Tackling the climate and ecological emergency
A new clean air strategy introducing ambitious local air quality targets that go beyond national requirements is being considered for Bath and North East Somerset.
While air quality has improved significantly in recent years, air pollution remains the UK's biggest environmental risk to public health, with evidence showing there is no safe level of exposure.
To protect people’s health and reduce pollution across the district, Bath & North East Somerset Council is proposing a new Clean Air Strategy that will:
- Introduce ambitious local targets for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, aiming to reach levels aligned with World Health Organisation guidelines by 2035.
- Improve monitoring to get a more accurate picture of air quality across B&NES and identify potential pollution hotspots.
- Reduce the health impacts of air pollution, particularly for children, older people and those with existing health conditions.
- Provide a distinct wide framework for the council to seek to maintain and improve air quality standards.
The strategy has been refined following public consultation on the draft strategy earlier this year, where around 60% of the 207 respondents backed both the Clean Air Strategy and the proposed air quality targets.
The strategy also marks a shift from focusing solely on locations where air quality limits have been exceeded, to improving air quality across the whole of B&NES.
The Clean Air Strategy and Local Air Quality Targets report goes before cabinet on September 10
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: "The council has made significant progress in improving air quality across B&NES, but we know that cleaner air means healthier lives. We recognise that meeting the UK’s current legal limit for nitrogen dioxide of 40 µg/m³ delivers public health improvements, but many health impacts associated with air pollution remain even at lower levels. That’s why it’s important to strive for continued improvements in air quality.
“This strategy sets out our ambition to go further, protecting our most vulnerable residents, improving public health and ensuring everyone can benefit from cleaner air now and in the future. Thank you to everyone who took part in our consultation.”
Progress against the Clean Air Strategy and local annual average air quality targets will be monitored and reported annually to ensure residents can track the improvements being made. Visit the council’s air quality webpages for updates.
Also going before cabinet on September 10 are reports on the draft Local Plan and a new Case for Change. Read the papers on the council website and watch live on our YouTube channel.
ENDS