Preventing air pollution

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Local controls

Your local council can introduce extra controls on emissions if there are air quality problems in your area.

Air Quality Management Areas

If air quality falls below required standards, your council will declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and plan for improvements.

Check if your business is in an AQMA and if you’re affected by:

  • road charging
  • parking restrictions
  • increased restrictions on waiting and loading times
  • taxes to encourage moving goods by rail
  • the review of planning applications by a pollution control team

Smoke control areas

Your council can also declare a smoke control area. This means you can only use authorised fuels, or exempted furnaces and boilers. Chimney smoke is not allowed, with only a few exceptions.

You could be fined up to £1,000 for each offence.

If you’re a contractor working at different locations you should always check if you’re in a smoke control area.