Lambeth Council has outlined how it plans to improve air quality in Clapham with an Air Quality Action Plan to be implemented across the borough.

The Air Quality Action Plan 2023-2025 (AQAP) sets out how it will combat sources of pollution in Lambeth, including emissions released from roads, buildings, and construction sites.

Through the plan, which residents can read here, the council hopes to work closely with residents, businesses, and major institutions by supporting the launch of the Air Quality Forum to ensure air quality targets are met.

Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: "Air pollution is one of the most significant public health challenges that we face in Lambeth.

"Poor air quality affects us all, but air pollution has the greatest impact on the older members of our community, the young and those of us living with heart and respiratory conditions. It is vital we take decisive action to protect residents and potentially save lives."

The previous Air Quality Action Plan 2017-2022 showed pollution levels on some of Lambeth's worst affected roads drop.

Aligning with the World Health Organisation emissions targets, Lambeth's new plan aims to improve air quality in all areas of the borough.

Specifically, the AQAP aims to reduce levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particle Matter PM2.5 and PM10 that are found in the air and can lead to serious illness or death. It is estimated air pollution kills over 100 Lambeth residents each year and leads to 750 emergency hospital admissions.

It prioritises seven actions the council can carry out to improve air quality, including the development of an air quality information service and the new construction pilot scheme, further work with communities to reduce emissions within Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

The council will also work towards integrating the new WHO air quality targets into the forthcoming Lambeth Local Plan, increase the number of electric vehicles in its fleet, work with businesses, institutions and others to develop a Clean Air Pledge.

It will also establish the Air Quality Forum for people in the borough to shape future air quality policies.

The AQAP builds on Lambeth's Climate Action Plan (CAP), which was adopted last year to support the borough to become Net Zero compatible by 2030.

Leading organisations across Lambeth, the Climate Partnership, have signed up to 20 CAP goals, including one to "break the association between inner-London living and poor air quality, pursuing World Health Organisation Air Quality targets.

Cllr Chowdhury added: "We have worked hard to ensure significant improvements to the quality of the air we breathe in Lambeth in recent years. As a result, the concentrations of the most concerning pollutants are falling.

"Nitrogen dioxide levels on Brixton Road are now less than half of those that were recorded in 2014, and by carrying out the actions that are laid out in this Air Quality Action Plan, we expect them to continue to fall.

"By implementing this Air Quality Action Plan, we will be making the progress we need to make Lambeth a healthier, cleaner borough for everyone."

You can sign up to the Air Quality Forum mailing list to stay up to date about Lambeth Council's local response to the climate emergency.

Read the Air Quality Action Plan (2023-25) here.