Purpose

The Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2031 has been produced as part of the Council’s statutory duties required by the Local Air Quality Management framework. It outlines the actions we will take to improve air quality in Kirklees between 2026 and 2031 to ensure national air quality standards are met across the Borough. 

The Air Quality Action Plan 2026–2031 applies to all wards across the Kirklees borough. However, particular attention is given to wards where Air Quality Management Areas have been declared, as these are locations where national air quality standards were not being met:

·       Colne Valley West Ward

·       Crosland Moor Ward

·       Dalton Ward

·       Dewsbury East Ward

·       Greenhead Ward

·       Heckmondwike Ward

·       Lindley Ward

·       Netherton and Newsome Ward

Engagement and Consultation

A Steering Group was established in line with Defra guidance LAQM.TG(22) to aid the development of the AQAP. Environmental Health (EH) held a cross-council engagement activity in January 2026, followed by a February Steering Group workshop to review and appraise the long list of potential measures and agree a deliverable shortlist.

The final AQAP therefore brings forward a targeted package of measures across traffic, active travel, planning and policy, council fleet and public information to address the remaining NO2 hotspots and support borough wide improvement. This will require the ongoing engagement of stakeholders to deliver on the measures and initiatives contained in the AQAP 2026 - 2031.

Schedule 11 to the Environment Act 1995 sets out the statutory consultees that a Local Authority must consult when preparing or revising an Air Quality Action Plan. In accordance with these requirements, the Council has circulated the draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to relevant statutory consultees including the Environment Agency, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Peak District National Park Authority, neighbouring authorities including Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford and Calderdale, Oldham and the Chamber of Commerce. The draft AQAP was submitted to Defra via the LAQM portal for appraisal and review by the Secretary of State.

In addition, a  public consultation was undertaken (between the 2nd – 31st March 2026) to test the shortlist that was established by a steering group.  Of the 72 responses received during the public consultation, respondents broadly supported the Plan's focus on reducing traffic-related emissions in the remaining AQMAs

The consultation highlighted additional concerns around domestic wood burning and vehicle idling, these issues are already addressed within the AQAP’s awareness and behaviour change measures and do not warrant any change to the Plan’s overall strategic direction.

The period of public consultation was limited by the pre-election period coming into effect, as a result, a proportionate and scaled consultation exercise was undertaken. The Council has received confirmation from the LAQM Helpdesk that the early consultation undertaken on the proposed measures is sufficient to support submission of the draft AQAP.

The draft plan was submitted to Defra in May 2026 and appraised in July 2026. Defra proposed a number of minor technical amendments, which have been incorporated where appropriate. Defra did not require any further public consultation as part of its appraisal.

Decision

RESOLVED -

1)    That the contents of the report, the improvement in air quality across Kirklees and the technical evidence supporting the priorities contained in the Air Quality Action Plan 2026–2031, be noted.

2)    That the statutory and public consultation undertaken, the representations received and the Council’s response, be noted.

3)    That the Kirklees Air Quality Action Plan 2026–2031, as appended to the report, be noted.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Head of Public Protection to make any non-material textual, technical or presentational amendments required before submission to Defra or publication.

5)    That approval be given to the Head of Public Protection to submit the adopted Air Quality Action Plan to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through the Local Air Quality Management portal and to arrange for its publication on the Council’s website.

6)    That the contents of the Integrated Impact Assessment (paragraph 3.5 refers) be noted.