Tell us what you think about Southwark's Air Quality Action Plan

Overview

Southwark has developed a plan to tackle air quality in the borough over the next 5 years. We think this plan will help us reduce volumes of Nitrogen Dioxide and particle pollution and work towards meeting World Health Organisation guidelines.

At the moment, far too many people in the borough live in areas with high levels of air pollution. This has a serious impact on people’s health and quality of life.

You can read our full report on Southwark’s air quality and a complete list of the actions we are planning to take here – and there is an in-depth survey on the full plan open until 3^rd July 2022

Below is a summary of some of the key actions we are proposing, and a simple survey so you can tell us what you think.

We plan:

• To adopt the World Health Organisation guidelines on air quality, which mean a much higher standard than current UK guidelines.

• To require all new buildings to meet Southwark standards on emissions, and to monitor and publicly report on construction emissions – construction is a major source of poor air quality.
• To enforce higher standards on new developments so their boilers and other heat sources are neutral or positive in air quality.
• To promote and deliver improvements in energy efficiency for existing buildings in the borough.
• To ensure all new housing has access to green space.
• To  work with restaurants and other businesses to reduce emissions from commercial kitchens.

• To carry out regular public information campaigns so people know about air pollution and what they can do.
• To work with schools to encourage less polluting forms of travel for staff and students.
• To develop clean air zones around schools, as well as hospitals and care homes.

• To increase the proportion of ultra low emission vehicles delivering freight in the borough.
• To increase the proportion of the council’s own vehicles that are electric, hydrogen or hybrid.
• To develop Low Emission Neighbourhood projects like the one in Walworth.
• To deliver healthy streets projects that encourage walking and cycling.

• To discourage idling by taxis and other vehicles.
• To encourage the London Mayor to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the M25.
• To use parking controls to encourage low emission vehicles, through discounts at on street parking bays and higher charges for the biggest polluters.
• To increase the number of electric vehicle charging points in the borough.