Press release

Government gives a £2 million boost to tackling air pollution

Defra have awarded £2 million worth of air quality grants to 36 local authorities across England. The grants, which have been awarded to those…

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Defra have awarded £2 million worth of air quality grants to 36 local authorities across England. The grants, which have been awarded to those authorities who have demonstrated innovative plans to tackle air pollution in our towns and cities, will fund 42 projects all over the country.

In particular, funding has been provided to support the investigation of Low Emission Zones, and to help create guidance and tools for local authorities who want to decrease emissions. Money has also been given to authorities who want to develop the way they communicate air quality messages to their local communities.

Environment Minister Lord de Mauley said:

“Air quality has improved significantly in recent years; however, we need to keep striving to improve the air we breathe. This £2 million air quality grant will help local communities take matters into their own hands. Without this money, many innovative projects would never see the light of day.

“In previous years, similar grants have been used very creatively to address air pollution. This is exactly the type of action that should be encouraged and I’m looking forward to reviewing the success of the projects this time next year.”

An emphasis was placed on projects that could secure additional funding from other sources, so as to strengthen the project outcomes and ensure cost-effectiveness.

The authorities who receive funding will need to provide Defra with a progress report by Autumn 2013, so that the success of each project can be monitored and to show how the money is being spent.

The air quality grant programme is now in its fifteenth year and so far over £50 million in grants has been given to support local air quality actions across England.

**Notes **

This grant scheme operates under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.

The criteria for the grant period 2012/13 was similar to last year’s in that it focused in the main on supporting projects which tackle nitrogen dioxide emissions.

Below is a full list of the grants that have been issued in the first round.

Projects to be funded under the second-round funding stage are not included in this list, as their projects are still to be assessed, but will be reported on shortly.

 

Lead Authority

Project   description

Grant Award

Birmingham - joint bid (W   Midland)

Continuation of Low Emission   Strategies and Low Emission Zones feasibility work in West Midlands

£150,000

Bradford MDC   2 (joint bid)

West Yorkshire LES/LEZ bid

£150,000

Cambridge City council

Fleet and Emissions   characterisation for City Council.

£60,000

Corporation of London  -1

Proposed CityAir App and taxi   emissions reduction scheme

£58,000

Exeter City Council

Low Emission Zone/Low Emission   Strategy feasibility study

£60,000

Herefordshire District Council

Modal Shift Park and cycle

£59,930

LB Borough Islington

Air Quality Campaign Days

£60,000

LB Camden

City Air: Rollout of CityAir   communication tools to support business engagement on air quality

£20,000

LB Camden (joint bid)

Cleaner Air 4 Schools: Rollout   of Cleaner Air 4 Schools tools to support engagement with schools on air   quality

£60,000

LB Croydon

Cleaner Air 4 Schools

£21,429

LB Ealing

Scenario Development for NO2   emissions reductions

£49,000

LB Hackney

Zero Emissions Network

£60,000

LB Haringey

Cleaner Air 4 Schools

£21,429

LB Hillingdon joint bid

Emissions modelling desk tool

£30,000

LB Islington

CityAir Rollout

£20,000

LB Southwark

Cleaner Air 4 Schools

£21,429

LB Sutton

Cleaner Air 4 Schools

£21,429

LB Tower Hamlet

Cleaner Air 4 Schools

£21,429

LB Wandsworth

CityAir Rollout

£20,000

LB Wandsworth

Emissions reduction analysis

£8,621

LB Westminster

Cleaner Air 4 Schools

£21,429

LB Westminster joint bid

CityAir Rollout

£20,000

Leicester City Council

Continuation of LEZ   feasibility to Business case stage

£60,000

Lewes Council

Modal shift through cycling   and LEZ parking

£46,000

Mid Devon DC - joint bid

Low Emission Strategies   Partnership bid

£150,000

Newcastle City Council

Travel reduction and awareness   raising campaign

£60,000

Northampton Borough Council

Support for LEZ feasibility   study

£65,000

Portsmouth City Council

Investigation of traffic   management strategies

£60,000

RB of Kensington & Chelsea

CityAir Rollout

£20,000

Sefton MBC

Ecostars fleet recognition   Scheme

£30,000

South Gloucestershire Council

Traffic Management

£17,000

St Albans DC

Freight Management Plan for St   Albans

£25,800

St Albans DC

Traffic emissions modelling

£50,500

Swale Council

Freight Management Plan

£17,000

Teignbridge Council

Investigation of bus emissions   strategy and Freight transfer Depot

£27,950

Warrington Council

Ecostars

£30,000

Waverley Council  -  2

LES Feasibility Study

£60,000

York City Council  -  1

Implementation of LES measures

£94,490

York City Council  - 2

Traffic simulation and modal   shift

£54,490

Published 31 December 2012