Active travel linked to fall in NO2 and particulate levels, says Lambeth Council

Lambeth Council has attributed improving air quality in the borough with its programme of Healthy Neighbourhoods and School Streets, as well as the expansion of the London Ultra Low Emission Zone.  

However, there are parts of the borough that still exceed both government and the more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines.

New data shows an overall improvement in air quality since 2017, with a reduction in levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less (PM10) that have been linked to health problems among vulnerable groups.

Since 2017 the NO2 levels in Brixton Road have fallen by 26%, while there has been a decrease of 51% in Vauxhall and 16% in Streatham Green over the same period. However, Brixton Road continues to exceed the air quality?objective?and still registers high volumes of NO2 in the air.

Improving air quality is linked to measures implemented by the council since 2019 to reduce the number of motor vehicle journeys and encourage more active travel such as walking, cycling, scooting and wheeling for local travel, said Deputy leader Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air.

“Poor air quality affects everyone, but disproportionately harms those with existing health vulnerabilities. That is why we have been very clear that more needs to be done to bring emissions down further, especially when it comes to pollution produced by vehicles on the road,” she said.

“We cannot achieve our goals of cleaner air alone. That is why we are working closely with partners to reduce their emissions across Lambeth, while encouraging people to use motor vehicles less frequently and supporting people to ensure their homes are more energy efficient.”

Lambeth Council’s latest Air Quality Annual Status Report measures the levels of harmful pollution in different parts of the borough over the last year.

There are three automatic monitoring sites in Lambeth – in Brixton, Streatham and Vauxhall – that use sensors to measure the concentration of pollution in the air.

The council also uses diffusion tubes located around the borough – including near several schools – to further monitor air quality.

The number of diesel vehicles registered in Lambeth has reduced by half in seven years from 24,400 in 2017 to 12,300 in 2024, said the council.

Rezina Chowdhury will be speaking at Liveable Neighbourhoods 2024