We are seeking your views on our draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for 2027 to 2031. The draft plan sets out the actions we propose to take over the next five years to reduce emissions, protect public health and improve air quality across the borough. Your feedback will help shape the final AQAP before it is adopted. The consultation is open until midnight on 18 October 2026 and we encourage you to take part by reading the draft AQAP and completing our short online survey.
Background
Air quality affects the health and wellbeing of everyone who lives, works, studies or visits Bromley. The health effects of air pollution are wide-ranging and can particularly affect vulnerable groups, including children, older people and those with existing health conditions.
Bromley has a declared Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) encompassing the northern part of the borough excluding Biggin Hill, Darwin and parts of St Mary Cray, St Pauls Cray and Chelsfield. The AQMA was first declared in 2007 and was increased in size in 2020. An AQMA can be declared when levels of air pollution exceed certain legal limits, known as air quality standards and objectives. When an AQMA is declared, local authorities are obliged to produce an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). The AQAP outlines how the local authority will work to reduce levels of air pollution.
Bromley has had an AQAP in place since 2007. The current AQAP was published in 2020 and subsequently extended to cover the period up to 2026. Bromley Council is now revising its AQAP to build on the progress already made and ensure the plan remains up to date.
What this survey is about
This statutory consultation invites residents, businesses and stakeholders to comment on Bromley Council's draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). Your feedback will help us refine and strengthen the final plan before it is submitted for approval and adoption.
The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
If you would like to provide a more detailed response, additional written submissions can be made via email at aqap@bromley.gov.uk.
What feedback are we looking for?
We are consulting on a draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) that has been developed using local air quality evidence, statutory guidance and input from council services and partner organisations. We want to understand what matters most to residents, businesses and other stakeholders when it comes to air quality in Bromley.
We are mainly seeking your views on the following:
- Air quality issues that matter most to you
- The sources of pollution Bromley should prioritise
- Our proposed air quality priorities and actions
- Any additional comments or suggestions to help shape the final Plan
As this is a statutory plan, there are some limits on the changes that can be made. The AQAP must comply with the requirements of the Environment Act 1995, the London Local Air Quality Management (LLAQM) framework and guidance issued by the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority.
The London Local Air Quality Management framework requires London boroughs to include a number of priority actions within their AQAPs. We must include these actions in our AQAP, although there is flexibility in how we implement these locally. More information on these actions is provided in the ‘LLAQM Borough Air Quality Action Matrix’ on the Mayor of London’s website.
There are also factors that we must take into account when developing the AQAP. The actions included must align with other Council plans, policies and strategies, including the Local Plan, Transport Strategy and Local Implementation Plan, Net Zero Action Plan and our Procurement Strategy.
We must also ensure that the actions included within the AQAP are realistic, achievable and capable of being delivered across the council.
What happens with your feedback?
Your feedback will be carefully reviewed and considered before the AQAP is finalised and formally adopted. Where appropriate, consultation responses may be used to refine actions, strengthen measures and improve the overall effectiveness of the Plan.
While all responses will be carefully considered, not every suggestion can be incorporated into the final AQAP.
We will publish a summary of the consultation findings and explanations to feedback.
The final AQAP will be submitted to the Greater London Authority for approval before being formally adopted by Bromley Council.