Air quality

Local Air Quality Management

Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities in the UK to adopt Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process to review and assess air quality in their areas, and designate air quality management areas (AQMA) if improvements are necessary. Where an AQMA is designated, local authorities are required to develop an air quality action plan to reduce pollution and achieve air quality limit values at local value.

The borough of Surrey Heath is situated in the southeast of England to the southwest of London and the main air quality issues are associated with the emission of pollutants from road traffic, in particular the M3 motorway. Except for road traffic, there are no other significant sources of local emissions within the Borough. The principal air pollutants of concern in Surrey Heath are NO2 and PM10.

In 2002 an Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) was declared, as monitoring results from previous years indicated that the exceedances of the annual mean objective for NO2 was likely. The initial AQMA was set along M3, between the Frimley flyover and the Ravenswood roundabout (A325). It was extended in both direction the following year, following a more detailed assessment.

Following the declaration of AQMA, an Air Quality Action Plan was developed which set out the measures to address air quality issues within the borough and to meet air quality objectives. In the mid 2010s, Highway England commenced the M3 upgrade, and work in Surrey Heath completed in 2017. Existing monitoring data appear to indicate the upgrade has improved air quality at locations near to the M3.

After over five years of consecutive compliance with national Air Quality Objectives in the AQMA, Defra recommended the revocation of this AQMA in 2023. In November 2024, Council’s Licensing Committee Members agreed with this recommendation and the AQMA was revoked in December 2024.

Following the revocation, Surrey Heath Borough Council continues to monitor air quality at 53 locations across the borough. Air Quality remains a high profile matter and Surrey Heath Borough Council is developing a local air quality strategy to maintain compliance, and further improve air quality through collaborative work.

Air quality monitoring in Surrey Heath

SHBC monitors NO2 and PM10 at our mobile automatic monitoring station situated in Castle Road, Camberley, approximately 20m north of the M3. Real time monitoring results and historic data are available on the UK Air Quality website.

In addition, Environmental Health monitors NO2 concentrations using diffusion tubes across a network which has recently been expanded to 53 locations, including one triplicate site co-located with the automatic monitoring station at Castle Road. The grid references of all our monitoring locations, and the results obtained at each monitoring sites, are stated in our Air Quality Annual Status Reports.

In 2023 the annual mean NO2 concentration, as monitored at our automatic monitoring station and 53 diffusion tube monitoring locations, all meet the national objective of 40 µg/m3.

In the past seven years, PM10 concentration monitored at our automatic monitoring station has been comfortably below the national objectives for annual average and 24-hour average.

There are no statutory requirements for local authorities to monitor PM2.5 as part of the Local Air Quality Management framework. In 2024, SHBC successfully applied for and awarded a Defra Local Air Quality Grant to purchase a portable PM2.5 monitor. The monitor has since been deployed at a number of locations likely to experience high concentration (e.g. off trunk roads), and / or areas with increased exposure risk (e.g. schools and town centres). Monitoring results indicate the PM2.5 levels within Surrey Heath Borough are likely to comply with current Air Quality Objective. SHBC continue to

work with neighbouring local authorities, Surrey County Council, and other public agencies to meet PM2.5 long-term targets.

Surrey Heath Borough Council produces Air Quality Annual Status Reports (ASR), which provides an overview of local air quality. The 2025 report can be viewed below.

If you wish to obtain a copy of previous ASR reports, please contact environmental.health@surreyheath.gov.uk. ASRs will be provided in the format submitted to and approved by Defra.

Working in partnership to improve air quality

Air pollutants are not static. A large portion of air pollution within Surrey Heath comes from sources outside of the Borough, outside of Surrey and even outside of the UK.

SHBC is working in partnership with other local authorities in Surrey and other agencies, to improve air quality.

• SHBC is an active member of the Surrey Air Alliance, which has representatives from all eleven Surrey District and Borough Councils and Surrey County Council’s Transport Team and Public Health Team. Surrey Air Alliance works with other stakeholders to improve understanding, promote behaviour changes, reduce air pollution impacts through planning and facilitate the transition to low emission transport and infrastructure.
• SHBC is also a member of the Blackwater Valley Group (external link), which has representatives from Rushmoor Borough Council, respective highways authorities of Surrey and Hampshire County Council, with technical and financial support from Defra. Members of the group are working together to reduce roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations on the A331 between the A31 and M3.
• As compliance with NO2 limit value had been achieved, the Blackwater Valley Group has been instructed by Defra to progress to the final stage of this project. An Exit Plan has been developed and will be implemented in accordance with Defra’s programme guidance.