Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2030 Consultation

Overview

Oxford City Council has a legal duty to monitor and assess air quality in line with national standards and limits. Where these limits are unlikely to be met, the Council must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for the pollutant concerned. In 2010, Oxford declared an AQMA covering the entire city.

Once an AQMA is in place, the Council is required to develop an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to reduce levels of pollution and improve air quality.

In Oxford, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) remains the primary pollutant of concern, with levels in some areas still exceeding legal limits.

This draft AQAP outlines proposed actions to improve air quality across the city over the period 2026–2030, building on the progress made under the previous plan (2021–2025).

Why your views matter

Your views are vital in shaping Oxford’s next Air Quality Action Plan. Local knowledge and lived experience help ensure the proposed actions are practical, inclusive, and reflect the priorities of the people most affected by air pollution.

By sharing your feedback and ideas, you’ll help the City Council develop effective and widely supported measures to make Oxford’s air cleaner and healthier for everyone.

We’d like to hear your thoughts on the draft actions — and any other ideas you think could help improve air quality in Oxford.

Please complete the online survey by 30 November 2025 (23:59) using the link below.

The draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) and the consultation booklet are available to view in the attachments at the bottom of this page. Please ensure you read these documents before completing the questionnaire.

If you prefer to respond using a paper copy of the survey, please email airquality@oxford.gov.uk to request one.

What happens next

All responses to this public consultation will be carefully reviewed and analysed by the Environmental Sustainability Team. Your feedback will help shape the final version of Oxford’s Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP).

Where possible, suggestions and ideas from the consultation will be incorporated into the plan. Where they cannot be implemented, the Council will provide clear and transparent explanations.

A Public Consultation Report will be published on the Oxford City Council website, setting out the detailed results of the consultation and the Council’s responses to the feedback received.

The final version of the AQAP, reflecting the outcomes of the consultation, is expected to be submitted to the City Cabinet for approval in early 2026.