Under the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 Local Authorities in Northern Ireland are required to carry out a Review and Assessment of their local air quality. The first round process, in 2002, involved a three stage phased approach.
The second round of local air quality management review and assessment commenced in 2006.
We are currently in Round 4 of the Review and Assessment process where councils are required to submit Progress Reports in 2010 and 2011.
All of Northern Ireland’s 26 District Councils have completed the first three rounds of Review and Assessments. Currently, 11 have declared Air Quality Management Areas. Of these 11, 2 have declared AQMAs for PM10 only, 2 for NO2 and PM10 together, 5 for NO2 only, and one for SO2.
(PM10 is a type of particulate matter. NO2 = nitrogen dioxide. SO2 = sulphur dioxide)
10 Councils have submitted Air Quality Action Plans to the Department. The remaining Council is currently preparing an Action Plan.
View the Review and assessment reports from all District Councils
Part III of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 - Local Air Quality Management Policy Guidance – LAQM PGNI (09)
The Department has made some changes to the policy guidance below as a result of responses received to the consultation.
Policy Guidance LAQM PG NI (09)
Finalised Policy Guidance LAQM PG NI (09) (including Annexes A and B) (PDF 276KB)
Annex C - Economic Principles for the Assessment of Local Measures to improve Air Quality (PDF 354KB)
Annex D - Practice Guidance to Local Authorities on Low Emissions Zones (PDF 511KB)
Annex E - Practice Guidance to Local Authorities on measures to Encourage the Uptake of Low Emission Vehicles (PDF 563KB)
Annex F - Practice Guidance to Local Authorities on Measures to Encourage the Uptake of Retro-Fitted Abatement Equipment on Vehicles (PDF 464KB)
Annex G - Worked Examples for the Practice Guidance (PDF 161KB)
RESPONSES TO THE CONSULTATION ON LOCAL AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND LAQM PG NI (09)
Summary of responses (32kb)
