East Suffolk Council
Stratford St Andrew AQMA - Revoked
History
In 2011 East Suffolk Council began monitoring for the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (from vehicle exhausts) on the A12 at Little Glemham, Farnham and Stratford St. Andrew. The results indicated that the site at Stratford St. Andrew (Long Row, The Street), measuring an annual mean NO2 concentration of 43.3µg/m3, was above the national Air Quality Strategy (AQS) objective – set at 40µg/m3. Additional monitoring was undertaken on the A12 in Stratford St. Andrew which confirmed the exceedance at Long Row. All other locations monitored on the A12 were within the AQS objective.
Detailed assessment
Detailed assessment investigations into this exceedance were completed in 2013 and recommended declaration of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for the 4 properties at Long Row, Main Road, Stratford St Andrew.
The AQMA was declared in June 2014. Following declaration, the required Further Assessment report was produced and approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at the end of 2015. It was consulted upon in March 2016. The studies undertaken suggested that southbound traffic accelerating just prior to the end of the 30mph speed limit in Stratford St. Andrew, located at the end of the Long Row houses, was a cause of increased emissions and a large part of the problem.
Action plan
The Steering Group set up for this AQMA included District and County Council Officers and Members, together with the Parish Council. The Group produced an Action Plan which received final approval from Defra in March 2018.
In summary, the Action Plan consists of 2 short term, priority action measures and 6 longer term aspirational measures to be considered in the future if needed.
The main priority measure was for Suffolk County Council to move the 30/50mph change of speed limit further south out of the village, thereby removing the acceleration events and their associated emissions from the vicinity of Long Row. This was undertaken in December 2017. The second priority measure ‘Assessment of planning applications for impact on air quality’ has been implemented by The Environmental Protection team at East Suffolk Council for more than 20 years and is on-going.
Results of monitoring
Since 2015 NO2 concentrations within the AQMA have shown a downward trend, falling below the AQS objective (40µg/m3) for the first time in 2017 (39µg/m3) and showing the lowest level recorded to date in 2023 at 26.2µg/m3 - now well below the AQS objective.
Historic and future air quality data can be found in the Annual Status Reports produced by East Suffolk Council.
Current situation
Following the reducing NO2 levels seen within the AQMA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that the AQMA should now be revoked by the Council.
An assessment was carried out at the start of 2024 to establish whether removal of the AQMA was appropriate. The revocation assessment considers the historical monitoring data, projected NO2 concentrations over the next 5 years, local and national trends in NO2 emissions, and local and regional factors that may impact on the AQMA. This includes the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) expected to commence within ESC – including Sizewell C, EA1N and EA2 Offshore Windfarms. The assessment concludes that, having considered the above, the AQMA can be revoked.
You can view a summary of the AQMA Revocation Assessment report and a brief history or the full Revocation Assessment Report.
These findings were discussed by East Suffolk Council’s Cabinet on 1st October 2024 where they unanimously accepted the next steps – to proceed with a public Consultation and give delegated authority to the Head of Environmental Services and Port Health and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment to consider the consultation responses, liaise with Defra and, if appropriate, approve the revocation order.
A 6-week public consultation was undertaken to gather views on the revocation assessment report and East Suffolk Council’s intention to revoke the AQMA and closed on 6 December 2024. Three responses were received by the Council and an anonymised version is available to view on the Air Quality Consultations section of this website.
Stratford St. Andrew AQMA Revocation Order
On 18 December 2024 the AQMA declared at Long Row, Main Road, Stratford St. Andrew Woodbridge Junction was revoked following the findings of the revocation assessment and the results of the public consultation. View a copy of the Revocation Order.
Our air quality duties do not end now that the AQMA has been revoked:
- Our monitoring regime will not alter - the Council will continue to monitor air quality in Stratford St. Andrew and along the A12. This is particularly important as the Early Years works have now started for Sizewell C, construction associated with cabling has begun for the EA3 Offshore Windfarm, and initial surveying work has started for both the EA1N and EA2 Offshore Windfarms. We will be keeping a close eye on NO2 concentrations at this location, and across the district, and working closely with each project individually and cumulatively.
- Yearly reports containing the monitoring data will continue to be published on the council’s website at Air quality monitoring data » East Suffolk Council.
- Air quality will continue to be considered in planning policy and future planning permissions across the district, and more specifically those which could impact on this area.
- The Council’s recently published Air Quality Strategy effectively supersedes local action planning work following revocation, ensuring continued air quality improvements beyond statutory designations.