Air Quality Action Plan Measures
Table 2 below shows the Preston City Council Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) measures.
You can download a copy of the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) measures (PDF, 1 MB).
It contains:
- a list of the actions that form part of the plan
- the responsible individual and departments/organisations who will deliver this action
- estimated cost of implementing each action (overall cost and cost to the local authority)
- expected benefit in terms of pollutant emission and/or concentration reduction
- the timescale for implementation
- how progress will be monitored
Table 2 ‒ Air Quality Action Plan Measures
Measure Number 1
Measure - Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (Lancashire-wide)
Category - Transport Planning and Infrastructure
Classification - Cycle network
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2024
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2032
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council
Funding Source - Network North local transport fund and 'Levelling up' funding.
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Partially funded
Estimated Cost of Measure - >£10 million
Measure Status - Planning
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Increase and improve cycling and walking infrastructure, thus increasing active travel and reducing emissions from road transport.
Key Performance Indicator - Implement at least one Cycling and Walking Plan in the Preston area.
Progress to Date - In the planning process. Obtained Cabinet approval in May 2024. A process will be undertaken to prioritise plans across Lancashire for implementation.
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Funding and Prioritisation.
Measure Number 2
Measure - Construction of Cottam Park Way rail station.
Category - Transport Planning and Infrastructure
Classification - Public transport improvement - interchanges stations and services
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2027
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2029
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and Network Rail
Funding Source - Transforming Cities Fund (DfT) & Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Funded
Estimated Cost of Measure - >£10 million
Measure Status - Planning
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Plans include Park and Ride, bus stop, secure cycle parking, and electric vehicle charging points. Wider infrastructure improvements planned to increase active travel to the station.
Key Performance Indicator - Opening of station
Progress to Date - In the planning process.
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Planning permission and land availability.
Measure Number 3
Measure - New Public Transport priority corridors along 7 routes into Preston
Category - Transport Planning and Infrastructure
Classification - Bus route improvements
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2024
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2025
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council
Funding Source - Bus Service Improvement Plan
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Funded
Estimated Cost of Measure - >£10 million
Measure Status - Planning
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - May affect AQMA 4 by providing a dedicated bus lane along New Hall Lane and associated junction improvements.
Key Performance Indicator - Bus lane and junction improvements along New Hall Lane completed.
Progress to Date - Public consultation has been completed.
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Cabinet approval
Measure Number 4
Measure - Installation of fast and rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points within the City.
Category - Promoting Low Emission Transport
Classification - Procuring alternative refuelling infrastructure to promote Low Emission Vehicles, EV recharging, gas fuel recharging.
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2024
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2030
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - Grant opportunities and/or a supplier/operator model.
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Currently not funded
Estimated Cost of Measure - Approximately £2.8M to deliver all PCC owned sites identified in a recent feasibility study
Measure Status - Feasibility study completed and planning stage to be commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Decrease in tailpipe emissions by enabling the shift to electric vehicles.
Key Performance Indicator - Installation of 20 fast/rapid charging points by 2029.
Progress to Date - Feasibility study completed.
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Funding.
Measure Number 5
Measure - Support LCC's ambition to install low powered, local EV charge points across Preston
Category - Promoting Low Emission Transport
Classification - Procuring alternative refuelling infrastructure to promote Low Emission Vehicles, EV recharging, gas fuel recharging.
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2025
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2030
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council.
Funding Source - Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - £10.1 LEVI Fund indicative allocation for Lancashire (of which, Preston will receive an allocation)
Estimated Cost of Measure - £1 million - £10 million
Measure Status - Planning
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Decrease in tailpipe emissions by enabling the shift to electric vehicles.
Key Performance Indicator - Installation of on-street charge points
Progress to Date - Funding allocated, subject to application to OZEV/LEVI
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Funding timescales and tendering processes mean that installations are likely to begin Autumn 2025. Practical considerations of installing charging infrastructure e.g. local energy supply levels etc.
Measure Number 6
Measure - Review the taxi licensing policy to encourage the uptake of cleaner vehicles.
Category - Promoting Low Emission Transport
Classification - Taxi licensing conditions
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2026
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - Ongoing
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - Internal Council budget for staff time
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - n/a
Estimated Cost of Measure - <£10k
Measure Status - Not commenced; to be reviewed at next policy cycle.
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Decrease in tailpipe emissions by shifting to cleaner vehicles.
Key Performance Indicator - Update to taxi licensing conditions to restrict new licences to cleaner vehicles
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Committee Approval. Lead in period required, initially for new applications. Date for the rest of fleet to be agreed following consultation with the taxi trade.
Measure Number 7
Measure - Transforming Cities Funding for smarter travel solutions is being implemented in a Proof of Concept scheme on the London Rd Corridor. Microsimulation traffic models linked to real time traffic information allow intelligent traffic management.
Category - Traffic Management
Classification - Other
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2024
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2025
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council
Funding Source - Transforming Cities Fund (DfT)
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Funded
Estimated Cost of Measure - £100k - £500k
Measure Status - In progress
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Improvement in reliability of bus service to encourage modal shift from passenger cars to public transport.
Key Performance Indicator - Bus journey times
Progress to Date - Scheme is funded and will be implemented throughout 2024. Improvements to journey times and reliability should encourage modal shift.
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - n/a
Measure Number 8
Measure - Integration of air quality sensors into the London Rd Corridor Microsimulation management system.
Category - Traffic Management
Classification - Other
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2025
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2029
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council
Funding Source - Defra AQ Grant
Defra AQ Grant Funding - To be applied for
Funding Status - Not yet established
Estimated Cost of Measure - £100k - £500
Measure Status - Not commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Reduction in NOx and particulate emissions from buses and other vehicles by smoothing the flow of traffic.
Key Performance Indicator - Improvement in air quality in AQMAs
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Scheme successfully implemented in Oxford. Microsimulation system is currently being installed in the London Road Corridor, and the system can add air quality sensors and use this data to make decisions to optimise traffic management.
London Road unlikely to meet current priorities for AQ Grant as objectives being achieved
Measure Number 9
Measure - Liaise with LCC on the development of LTP4 and support the inclusion of policies which will improve air quality in Preston.
Category - Policy Guidance and Development Control
Classification - Regional groups co-ordinating programmes to develop area-wide strategies to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2025
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2026
Organisations Involved - Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council
Funding Source - Internal Council budget for staff time
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - n/a
Estimated Cost of Measure - <£10k
Measure Status - Currently at early stages of LTP4 development.
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Broad planning strategy to reduce transport-related pollutant emissions in the long-term.
Key Performance Indicator - Inclusion of air quality within LTP4
Progress to Date - Public Health team has submitted an evidence base
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Lack of guidance from DfT on LTP4.
Measure Number 10
Measure - Collaborate with planning colleagues within PCC, South Ribble Council, and Chorley Council on the development of the next Central Lancashire Core Strategy and support the inclusion of relevant policies to improve air quality.
Category - Policy Guidance and Development Control
Classification - Regional Groups Co-ordinating programmes to develop area wide strategies to reduce emissions and improve air quality
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2024
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2026
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council, South Ribble Council and Chorley Council.
Funding Source - Internal Council budget for staff time
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - n/a
Estimated Cost of Measure - <£10k
Measure Status - Not commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Broad planning strategy to reduce pollutant emissions in the long-term.
Key Performance Indicator - Inclusion of air quality within Environmental Policy section of next Core Strategy
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - n/a
Measure Number 11
Measure - Review existing planning application validation checklist for air quality. Once Core Strategy has been adopted, consider producing a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as a guide for developers to submit planning applications to account for air quality.
Category - Policy Guidance and Development Control
Classification - Air Quality Planning and Policy Guidance
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2025
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2030
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - Internal Council budget for staff time
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - n/a
Estimated Cost of Measure - <£10k
Measure Status - Not commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Reduced emissions and reduced exposure through developments designed with air quality considered from the outset.
Key Performance Indicator - Review of validation checklist completed.
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Consider broader direction to reduce the number of SPDs produced. Timings of the Core Strategy publication.
Measure Number 12
Measure - Review current extent of Preston's Smoke Control Area and consider extending to cover whole City region.
Category - Policy Guidance and Development Control
Classification - Other Policy
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2026
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2026
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - Internal Council budget for staff time
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - n/a
Estimated Cost of Measure - <£10k
Measure Status - Not commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - PM10/PM2.5 emissions reduction.
Key Performance Indicator - Review complete
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Staffing Resource
Measure Number 13
Measure - Conduct a local survey into solid fuel burning behaviours to help target public information campaigns and emission reduction strategies.
Category - Public Information
Classification - Other
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2027
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2027
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - To be confirmed (TBC)
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Unfunded
Estimated Cost of Measure - £10k - £50k
Measure Status - Not commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Information to help target PM10/PM2.5 emissions reduction.
Key Performance Indicator - Survey completed
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Funding, public engagement.
Measure Number 14
Measure - Devise communication plan to improve public awareness of Preston's Smoke Control Area and, more broadly, the Domestic Solid Fuel Regulations.
Category - Public Information
Classification - Other
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2028
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - Ongoing
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - Internal Council budget for staff time
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - n/a
Estimated Cost of Measure - <£10k
Measure Status - Not commenced
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - PM10/PM2.5 emissions reduction.
Key Performance Indicator - Output information regarding the SCA
Progress to Date - Not started
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Staffing Resource.
Measure Number 15
Measure - Upgrade the Council's vehicle fleet to at least Euro 6
Category - Promoting Low Emission Transport
Classification - Company vehicle procurement - prioritising uptake of low emission vehicles
Estimated Year Measure to be Introduced - 2024
Estimated / Actual Completion Year - 2026
Organisations Involved - Preston City Council
Funding Source - Internal Council budget
Defra AQ Grant Funding - No
Funding Status - Funded
Estimated Cost of Measure - £1 million - £10 million
Measure Status - In progress (implementation phase)
Target Reduction in Pollutant / Emission from Measure - Reduced tailpipe emissions of NO2
Key Performance Indicator - Number of road fleet vehicles changed to Euro 6
Progress to Date - Funding secured and in the process of replacement. 53 Euro 6 vehicles in the fleet
Comments / Potential Barriers to Implementation - Inflationary pressure, delivery schedules, and manufacturing capacity.
Share this page
