Contents
- Executive Summary: Air Quality in Our Area
- Actions, Conclusions and Priorities to improve air quality
- Table A - Summary of National Air Quality and International Standards, Objectives and Guidelines
- Air Quality Monitoring
- Comparison of Monitoring Results with AQOs
- Action to Improve Air Quality
- Air Quality Action Plan Progress
- Planning Update and Other New Sources of Emissions
- Additional Activities to Improve air quality
- Appendix A - Details of Monitoring Site Quality QA/QC
- Appendix B - Summary of Breathe London Sensor Monitoring Data
- Appendix C - Map(s) of Monitoring Locations and AQMAs
- Appendix D - Abbreviations
Air Quality Action Plan Progress
The London Borough of Bexley adopted its current AQAP 2026-2031 to support the delivery of measures aimed at reducing emissions from transport, development, domestic combustion and other local sources of air pollution.
The AQAP is linked to the borough wide Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), which was declared in 2007. Table K provides a brief summary of London Borough of Bexley progress against the Air Quality Action Plan, showing progress made this year. New projects which commenced in 2025 are shown at the bottom of the table.
| Measure | LLAQM Action Matrix Theme | Action | Estimated / Actual Completion Date | Organisations Involved | Progress - Emissions/Concentration data - Benefits - Negative impacts/Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Air Quality monitoring | Continuation of real time monitoring sites, with continuous monitoring stations at 3 background locations measuring nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 | 2030 | Local Authority Environmental Health | Bexley continued operating its automatic monitoring network comprising three urban background sites and one kerbside site measuring NO2 PM10 and PM2.5 Monitoring data continued to demonstrate compliance with relevant air quality objectives. This provides robust long-term trend data and supports evidence-based air quality management |
| 2.1 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Ensuring emissions from construction are minimised | 2030 | Local Authority Environmental Health, and Planning | A total of 18 planning applications with Air Quality Impact Assessments were reviewed during 2025 to ensure potential air quality impacts and mitigation measures were appropriately considered and controlled through the planning process. Compliance checks remain largely complaint-led due to resource constraints. |
| 2.2 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Ensuring enforcement of Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) air quality policies | 2030 | Local Authority Environmental Health, and Planning | NRMM conditions continue to be applied to relevant 18 major developments through the planning process, helping reduce emissions from construction plant and machinery. |
| 2.3 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Enforcing planning policies relating to future potential heat networks policies | 2030 | Local Authority Environmental Health, and Planning | Relevant developments continue to be assessed against Local Plan policies supporting future connection to decentralised heat networks. |
| 2.4 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Ensuring adequate, appropriate, and well-located green space and infrastructure is included in new developments | 2030 | Environmental Health and Planning | Air Quality Neutral requirements continue to be secured through the planning process where applicable, helping to prevent increases in emissions from new developments. |
| 2.5 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Ensuring adequate, appropriate, and well-located green space and infrastructure is included in new developments | 2030 | Environmental Health and Planning | Urban greening continues to be assessed and secured through the planning process in accordance with London Plan and Local Plan requirements, contributing to improved environmental quality and climate resilience. |
| 2.6 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Ensuring that Smoke Control Zones are appropriately identified and fully promoted and enforced | 2030 | Environmental Health | This Supports reduction of PM and PM2.5 emissions from domestic solid fuel burning. Continued promotion and enforcement of Smoke Control Area requirements were carried out. Complaints regarding chimney emissions continue to be investigated in accordance with service standards |
| 2.7 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Master planning and redevelopment areas aligned with Air Quality Positive and Healthy Streets Policies | 2030 | Forward Planning and Development Control | Air Quality Positive and Healthy Streets principles continue to be promoted through any major redevelopment proposals. |
| 2.8 | Emissions from developments and buildings | Assessing impact of commercial cooking | 2030 | Environmental Health | Preparatory work towards developing an inventory of commercial cooking extraction systems remains programmed within the AQAP period. No progress reported during 2025. |
| 3.1 | Public health and awareness raising | Public Health department taking shared responsibility for borough air quality issues and | 2030 | Local Authority Public Health | Air quality continues to be embedded as a cross-cutting public health issue through environmental protection and health improvement activities |
| 3.2 | Public health and awareness raising | Promotion of availability of airTEXT | 2030 | Communications and Marketing | Bexley remained part of the airTEXT consortium and continued to distribute pollution alerts. Subscriber numbers increased overall in 2025, with SMS subscribers increasing from 121 to 137 (+16) and voicemail subscribers increasing from 7 to 16 (+9). Email subscriptions reduced from 33 to 23 (-10), although overall engagement remains positive. |
| 3.3 | Public health and awareness raising | Targeted action to improve air quality in and around schools | Environmental Health, Public Health, Communications | No school air quality projects were undertaken during 2025. | |
| 4.1 | Delivery servicing and freight | Update of procurement policies to reduce pollution from logistics and servicing | 2030 | Local Authority Procurement | Procurement requirements continue to support the use of lower-emission vehicles and progression towards zero-emission capable fleets by 2030. |
| 5.1 | Borough fleet | Increasing the number of hydrogen, electric, hybrid, bio-methane and cleaner vehicles in the boroughs’ fleet Smarter Driver Training for drivers of vehicles in Borough Own Fleet i.e. through training of fuel-efficient driving and providing regular re-training of staff | 2030 | Environmental Services | Continued transition towards lower-emission fleet operations. Benefits: Fleet management arrangements continue to monitor idling, fuel consumption and driving behaviour while supporting the transition to zero-emission capable vehicles by 2030. Lack of charging infrastructure continues to constrain full fleet electrification. |
| 6.1 | Localised solutions | Green Infrastructure | 2030 | Local Authority Planning (Policy and DM) | No school air quality projects were undertaken during 2025. |
| 6.2 | Localised solutions | Low emission neighbourhoods | 2030 | Transport and Environmental Health | Measure not currently being actively pursued. |
| 7.1 | Cleaner transport | Ensure that Transport and Air Quality projects are integrated | 2030 | Highways, Traffic and Infrastructure | Air quality considerations continue to be incorporated into transport projects and Local Implementation Plan delivery. |
| 7.2 | Cleaner transport | Discouraging unnecessary idling by taxis, coaches and other vehicles (e.g. through anti-idling campaigns or enforcement activity) | 2030 | Highways, Traffic and Infrastructure | Reduces unnecessary vehicle emissions at local hotspots. Complaints continue to be investigated and awareness raised where appropriate. No significant idling hotspots identified during 2025. |
| 7.3 | Cleaner transport | Regular temporary car free days | Highways, Traffic and Infrastructure | Action not implemented during 2025. | |
| 7.4 | Cleaner transport | Installation of Ultra-low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) infrastructure (electric vehicle charging points, rapid electric vehicle charging point and hydrogen refuelling stations) | Highways, Traffic and Infrastructure | Increased charging infrastructure supports transition to ultra-low emission vehicles and long-term reductions in road traffic emissions. In 2025 to 2026, Bexley had installed 580 publicly accessible on-street charging points and 29 publicly accessible off-street charging points, significantly increasing charging provision across the borough and supporting progress towards AQAP targets | |
| 7.5 | Cleaner transport | Provision of infrastructure to support walking and cycling | 2030 | Highways, Traffic and Infrastructure | Encourages modal shift away from private car use, reducing transport-related emissions. During 2025 to 2026, 4 new zebra crossings were delivered, and 66 new secure on-street residential cycle parking spaces (cycle hangars) were installed, improving accessibility and encouraging active travel. |