Air quality

Air quality in Leicester is monitored across a network of five air quality stations, which continuously measure concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10).

How we manage air quality

All local authorities are required to undertake a review and assessment of local air quality to identify whether the air quality objectives for certain key pollutants are being met. Where objectives are not being met, the local authority is required to develop an action plan to achieve progress towards meeting the targets. Leicester's air quality action plan for 2015-2026 is available here.

The air quality objectives are set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and include annual mean objectives and hourly mean objectives for a range of pollutants.

The pollutant objectives are set at levels low enough to make adverse health unlikely for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those already affected by respiratory conditions, such as asthma.

A complete list of DEFRA air quality objectives can be found here.

Air quality in Leicester

Addressing poor air quality is crucial as poor air quality affects people’s health and damages the environment. Over the last Air Quality Action Plan period, Leicester City Council has made significant progress on improving air quality in Leicester. Since 2022, Leicester has been fully compliant with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' Air Quality Objectives at all Air Quality Monitoring Stations across Leicester for NO2 and Particulate Matter (both PM10 and PM2.5).

Notable measures and actions that were undertaken by Leicester City Council during the last action plan include:

Delivery of Phase II ‘Connecting Leicester’ programme.

Delivery of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme – this has improved transport alternatives for commuters to travel by bus, walking and cycling on key radial corridors.

Redeveloped two city centre bus stations, with St. Margaret’s Bus Station being the UK’s first net zero carbon bus station.

Development and progression of goals under the Leicester Enhanced Bus Partnership: Leicester Bus Plan. This includes the introduction of the Greenlines Electric Bus Project and delivery of 120 electric buses into the commercial bus fleet.

Ongoing delivering of behavioural change interventions, working with schools, communities and businesses.

Appointment of an Air Quality Education Officer, that helps to run air quality related events in schools and promotes the key message of anti-idling.

Air Quality Action Plan (2025 - 2030) consultation:

In order to continue to improve air quality across the City of Leicester, Leicester City Council have produced a new draft Air Quality Action Plan (2025-2030), as part of the council's statutory duties required under The Environment Act 2021.

The new plan builds on our previous action plan and outlines the action we will take to push further to improve air quality in Leicester. The actions fall into the following categories:

Theme 1: Air Quality Monitoring, Public Awareness and Engagement

Theme 2: Promoting, Supporting, and Encouraging Sustainable Transport

Theme 3: Reducing Emissions from Transport

Theme 4: Optimising Traffic Management

Theme 5: Development Control and Regulatory Services

We are asking businesses and residents in Leicester to have their say on the proposed new Air Quality Action Plan.

The public consultation will run from 31 July until 27 September. For more information and to leave your comments, visit the Air Quality Action Plan consultation page.

Air quality management area

The Environment Act 1995 requires all local authorities to regularly review and assess local air quality. Where exceeding air quality targets is considered likely, the local authority must then declare an air quality management area (AQMA) and prepare an air quality action plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place to improve air quality.

During 2000, we completed a three-stage review and assessment process, using detailed monitoring and forecast modelling up to 2005. The process identified that government air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) would not be met in some parts of Leicester by the end of 2005. NO2 is one of the main pollutants coming from road traffic. In places where high levels of NO2 were expected, an air quality management area was declared.

Map of AQMA and air quality stations in Leicester

Monitoring stations in Leicester

Leicester meets all current national air quality objectives set out by DEFRA. We currently run five fixed automatic monitoring stations measuring pollutants: oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and large particulate matter (PM10).

Site name	Site type	Pollutants monitored
Abbey Lane	Roadside	N02 PM10
Glenhills Way East	Roadside	N02 PM10
Melton Road	Roadside	N02 PM10
St Matthews Way	Roadside	N02
Vaughan Way	Roadside	N02 PM10

Since 2011 there has been a gradual overall improvement in NO2 levels across all sites. Since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, these levels have dropped further and remain at a level below the DEFRA air quality objective.

Historic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) information: data archive

You can find our air quality monitoring data that we produce to comply with local national standards below.

If you have any questions regarding air quality in Leicester please email us.