Air pollution remains one of the UK's most significant public health challenges, linked to between 26,000 and 38,000 deaths a year. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee's recent evidence session on Air Pollution in England offers an early signal of where Government policy is heading – and what that could mean for planning and development across England.
As reported by the BBC, on 14th September 2026, The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee gathered to hear evidence on Air Pollution in England from Diana Johnson MP, Minister of State for Public Health and Patient Safety, DHSC; Professor Sir Chris Whitty KCB, Chief Medical Officer for England; and Simon Reeve, Deputy Director for Public Health Systems and Workforce, DHSC.
The committee highlighted the health impacts of poor air quality, particularly for chronic ill health, linking it to between 26,000 and 38,000 deaths a year, causing significant financial and operational constraints to the NHS.
The discussion points and evidence of the committee are likely to be used to inform the government’s approach to air quality, which may have significant implications for planners and developers and local authorities. To help you navigate the discussion and the potential implications for Planning and Air Quality in the UK, see below a succinct analysis on the topics discussed.
Leading Emissions Sources and Air Quality
Whilst pollutant levels continue to fall year on year, and the UK remains a leader in sustained, reduced emissions, calls for the UK Government to do more continue. Vehicle sourced emissions remain one the biggest contributors, however, significant improvements have been made, largely as a result of improving technology for both cars and vans as well as HGVS. The move towards electrification has helped to result in reduced emissions from busy roads. Professor Chris Witty highlights though that there is ‘further to go’.
Typically, vehicle emissions are the main driver for planning applications for air quality. We do not expect this to change from Professor Witty’s comments despite the gradual improvement.
Similarly, assessments of construction emissions, another high contributing emission source, are not likely to change despite reduction targets being missed, due to investment in development within the defence, housing and technology infrastructure sectors.
Compliance with WHO Targets
The UK’s legal air quality target for fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) is 10 μg/m³ to be met by 2040, which is twice as high as the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) strict guideline limit of 5 μg/m³.
Professor Witty’s evidence seemed to suggest that there is no appetite for the UK to change the air quality legal limits to align with the WHO targets set in 2021, highlighting the ongoing need for reduction, whilst not explicitly changing UK legislation.
Perhaps the most significant point of substance for air quality practitioners was Minister Hardy’s stated intention to move away from a “tick box” compliance culture. She was explicit that the Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) wants to introduce a mindset of continuous improvement rather than static target-setting, meaning that even where a local authority has achieved compliance with air quality limits, further reductions would still be expected and encouraged.
This has clear implications for planning-related air quality assessments:
- Local authorities may become less willing to accept “compliance with limits” as a sufficient basis for granting planning permission, particularly in areas with a history of exceedance.
- Environmental Statements and air quality assessments may need to demonstrate ongoing mitigation and improvement trajectories, not just point-in-time compliance.
Expansion of the Air Quality Monitoring Network
The committee highlighted the challenges that Local Authorities face in monitoring, assessing and mitigating air pollution. These challenges include limited funding, but also the challenges faced by air pollution disproportionately affecting children, those in deprived communities, ethnic minority populations and those with preexisting health conditions.
There is a call for additional centralised Air Quality Monitoring especially in areas where vulnerable groups are identified.
Bill Parish confirmed a substantial expansion of the PM2.5 monitoring network, with a further 65 new monitors installed since 2024, rising to approximately 197 by the end of 2027. Monitors are being prioritised for urban areas and locations of high population exposure, with DEFRA and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) jointly developing vulnerability maps that overlay deprivation indicators with pollutant concentration and modelling data.
Cross-Government Co-ordination and the Air Quality Strategy 2028
Insight into how the forthcoming air quality strategy is being shaped was further discussed by Emma Hardy MP (DEFRA), Bill Parish (DEFRA), Simon Lightwood MP (DfT) and Jennifer Raynor (DfT).
Minister Hardy candidly admitted that cross-Government working “could be better” and confirmed that DEFRA is establishing a more formal cross-Government group to address air quality collectively, rather than relying on ad hoc official-level engagement. Notably, the strategy is being restructured around thematic areas that cut across departmental silos, including:
- Healthy schools (covering school streets, ventilation and building regulations)
- Nature and the countryside
- Cleaner and safer communities
- Healthy homes
This approach is significant for practitioners, as it suggests that future planning guidance may increasingly expect applicants to demonstrate how proposals contribute to (or detract from) these cross-cutting themes, rather than being assessed purely against traditional pollutant-specific criteria.
Regulatory Pressures Increase for Nitrogen and Ammonia
A significant exchange concerned nitrogen and ammonia pollution from agriculture. Key points of note:
- DEFRA has no current plans to publish a standalone national nitrogen strategy, instead addressing nitrogen through the existing frameworks (the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Water White Paper and the Farming Roadmap 2050).
- DEFRA is examining Scotland’s nitrogen balance sheet approach as a possible model for tracking progress.
- The cattle sector (responsible for 44% of national ammonia emissions) remains unregulated by environmental permitting, unlike the poultry and pig sectors. DEFRA has committed to consulting on extending environmental permitting to beef and dairy operations.
- The UK’s ammonia reduction against the Gothenburg Protocol target (16% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030) stands at just 9% after 21 years—a shortfall likely to increase regulatory scrutiny of agricultural operations
Practitioners advising on developments near Ramsar sites, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or other habitats sensitive to nitrogen deposition should anticipate increased regulatory and public scrutiny of ammonia sources, and potentially forthcoming permitting requirements for larger livestock operations.
Non-Exhaust Emissions and Euro 7
Minister Lightwood confirmed that the Department for Transport (DfT) has consulted on adopting the Euro 7 standard in Great Britain, which will regulate brake and tyre wear particulates for the first time.
New brake emission regulations are proposed to apply to all new cars and vans from 29 November 2027. This is a critical development for transport-related air quality assessments, as it signals that non-exhaust emissions (increasingly dominant as the vehicle fleet electrifies) will move from an unregulated externality to a regulated pollutant source, with implications for how future transport assessments model particulate matter from road schemes.
Clean Air Zones, ULEZ and the Government’s “Agnostic” Position
Minister Lightwood confirmed that the Government’s position on Clean Air Zones and ULEZ-style schemes remains “agnostic”, treating this as a matter for local decision-making rather than national direction.
This is an important point for our transport and air quality advisory work at Lucion. There is no indication of national government mandating or actively incentivising new clean air zones, meaning any push for such schemes will continue to be locally led and subject to significant local political sensitivity, as seen in Manchester and Bradford.
How can you get ahead of the 2028 strategy?
For our clients – whether local authorities managing monitoring obligations, developers navigating air quality assessments, or agricultural and rural businesses facing increased scrutiny of ammonia emissions – these evidence sessions offer an early, valuable indication of where regulatory expectations are heading, even ahead of formal legislative change. Understanding this shifting landscape now, rather than reacting once the 2028 strategy lands, will be key to avoiding delays and unnecessary costs further down the line.
If you’d like to discuss what these developments could mean for your project, portfolio or operations, get in touch with our air quality and planning team today by emailing [email protected].
