The AQAP measures presented in this document are targeted towards the predominant sources of emissions within the city, especially where these contribute to poor air quality in the six AQMAs declared or amended in 2020. Air Quality Management Areas are declared when there is an exceedance, or likely exceedance, of a legally binding air quality standard. It does not include locations where people are not present for the duration of the averaging period, for example the central reservation of a main road.
The 6 AQMAs within the city are shown in Figure 1, and their dates of declaration are shown below.
Figure 1: Brighton & Hove NO2 AQMAs declared or amended in 2020

Figure 1 - a map labelling the 6 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) across Brighton & Hove.
Brighton & Hove NO2 AQMAs declaration dates
AQMA
|
Location
|
Date of declaration
|
---|
AQMA1
|
Central areas and main routes into the city centre
|
Declared in 2013, amended in 2020
|
---|
AQMA2
|
Rottingdean High Street
|
Declared in 2013, confirmed 2020
|
---|
AQMA3
|
South-West Portslade
|
Declared in 2020
|
---|
AQMA4
|
Sackville Road/Old Shoreham Road junction
|
Declared in 2020
|
---|
AQMA5
|
The Drove-South Road and Preston Road
|
Declared in 2013, amended in 2020
|
---|
AQMA6
|
Eastern Road (Royal Sussex County Hospital)
|
Declared in 2020
|
---|
Brighton & Hove’s first AQMA was declared in 2004, included the A23 and A270 and was subsequently amended.
Air Quality Assessment
The 6 declared AQMAs have shown evidence of exceeding national air quality standards for NO2 or require at least three more typical years of monitoring to be certain that UK air quality standards are met.
AQMA1 – Central areas and main routes into the city centre
AQMA1 covers several kilometres of the city centre including 4 main arterial routes as well as the current bus ULEZ which is in operation between Castle Square and Palmeira Square.
Figure 2 below shows levels of NO2 in and around AQMA1. The heatmap presents outdoor pollution concentrations prior to COVID-19 which altered the amount and type of traffic.
Figure 2: Brighton & Hove AQMA1 NO2 levels

As this area covers a broad range of arterial routes and central locations with differing vehicle types, it is discussed in 5 distinct areas below. The map labels show established diffusion tube monitoring site names in the area and annual levels of NO2 recorded at these sites.
Labelled points are diffusion tube monitor names with NO2 concentrations prior to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Pollution maps are based on a computer-based dispersion model and pre-COVID traffic flows.
Figure 3: AQMA1 North Street and Western Road (ULEZ)

Some of the highest UK NO2 levels south of London have been recorded along North Street which is part of the city centre ULEZ. The area has very high visitor numbers with mostly commercial units and some residential and hotel use.
The introduction of cleaner diesel and hybrid buses in this area has led to reductions in bus emissions which has helped to improve air quality in this area substantially. North Street has seen the biggest falls in NO2 compared to anywhere in Sussex, with half as much noxious pollution compared with 2013/14.
AQMA1 ULEZ area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction since 2019 needed to meet UK legal requirement by
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective by
|
---|
North Street
|
49µg/m3
|
28%
|
26%
|
39%
|
---|
Western Road
|
38µg/m3
|
24%
|
5%
|
21%
|
---|
To surpass the UK air quality standard for NO2 and reach our local target of 30 µg/m3 a 39% reduction in NO2 is required on North Street and a 21% reduction is required on Western Road compared to 2019 levels.
There has been progress towards these aims during 2021 and the council has been successful in its recent bid for almost £500,000 of DEFRA funds to continue with exhaust upgrades to the bus fleet during 2022.
Prior to the pandemic, source apportionment indicated that buses accounted for the majority of NO2 along North Street (63%). Similarly Western Road was modelled with NO2 contributions from buses at 43%. Source apportionment prior to the pandemic is apportioned as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Source Apportionment AQMA1 ULEZ Area 2019

North Street
62% buses and coaches
12% domestic and commercial space heating
11% minibuses and diesel cars
6% regional background
5% heavy goods vehicles
3% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Western Road
43% buses and coaches
20% domestic and commercial
20% minibuses and diesel cars
8% regional background
6% heavy goods vehicles
2% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
AQMA1 Brighton Station and Queens Road Area
Figure 5: AQMA 1 Brighton Station and Queens Road Area

This part of AQMA1 covers the main arrival point for rail passengers into Brighton station, Queens Road down to North Street, as well as the route along Terminus Road up to Seven Dials.
Taxi pick-up and drop-off at the station frontage was moved to the east side of the station in 2019, meaning lower emissions from taxis are now in a more open area with lower pedestrian footfall and general traffic.
NO2 levels have improved substantially around Queens Road (which includes the front of the rail station) and early indications show sustained improvement and compliance with national standards for the majority of this area.
AQMA1 Brighton Station and Queens Road area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction since 2019 needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
Terminus Road
|
38 µg/m3
|
30%
|
5%
|
21%
|
---|
Frederick Place
|
38 µg/m3
|
15%
|
5%
|
21%
|
---|
Continued improvement is still required in this area to achieve our targets prior to 2027. In particular, for the hill climb on Terminus Road and the NO2 hotspot on Frederick Place, North Laine; where a further 21% reduction in outdoor NO2 is required in order to surpass the local objective.
For Queens Road prior to the pandemic, source apportionment modelling indicated 27% of NO2 was from buses, 22% from diesel cars, 6% from HGVs and 9% from vans, with the remainder from gas boilers, petrol cars and other sources as shown below.
Some diesel trains still operate on routes to the west. Most other trains are powered by electric so their contribution to local pollution is negligible.
Figure 6: Source Apportionment AQMA1 Brighton Station and Queens Road Area 2019

Brighton Station and Queens Road
27% buses and coaches
25% domestic and commercial space heating
22% mini buses and diesel cars
10% regional background
9% light goods vehicles and vans
6% heavy goods vehicles
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
AQMA 1 A23
The area is a major bus route as well as being part of the main north-south route through the city centre, meaning it is used by a range of vehicle types.
Figure 7: AQMA 1 A23

AQMA1 London Road and Preston Circus area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
London Road
|
53µg/m3
|
31%
|
32%
|
44%
|
---|
New England Road
|
44 µg/m3
|
17%
|
18%
|
32%
|
---|
Beaconsfield Road
|
33 µg/m3
|
15%
|
Already reached
|
9%
|
---|
Viaduct Terrace
|
45 µg/m3
|
28%
|
20%
|
33%
|
---|
Grand Parade
|
44 µg/m3
|
16%
|
18%
|
31%
|
---|
A 44% reduction in annual NO2 on London Road is required to achieve our local target.
For New England Road a 32% in annual NO2 is required to achieve 30 µg/m3 NO2.
Prior to the pandemic, source apportionment on London Road (between Cheapside and Oxford Street) indicated the largest proportion of NO2 emissions came from buses (39%) with significant contributions from medium sized diesel vehicles. Gas combustion in boilers is also an important contributor to NO2 in the area. Full source apportionment is shown below.
Figure 9: Source Apportionment AQMA1 London Road 2019

London Road
39% buses and coaches
20% minibuses and diesel cars
15% heavy goods vehicles
15% domestic and commercial
6% regional background
4% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Prior to the pandemic, for roads connected with the busy junction at Preston Circus, NO2 was apportioned as follows.
Figure 10: Source Apportionment AQMA1 Preston Circus Area 2019

New England Road
49% Minibuses and diesel cars
22% domestic and commercial
9% regional background
8% light goods vehicles and vans
7% heavy goods vehicles
4% buses and coaches
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Beaconsfield Road
43% Minibuses and diesel cars
24% domestic and commercial
11% regional background
8% buses and coaches
7% heavy goods vehicles
6% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Viaduct Terrace
45% Minibuses and diesel cars
23% domestic and commercial
16% light goods vehicles and vans
6% regional background
5% heavy goods vehicles
4% buses and coaches
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
AQMA1 Lewes Road and Hollingdean Road
Figure 11: AQMA 1 Lewes Road and Hollingdean Road Area

AQMA1 Lewes Road Hollingdean Road area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
Lewes Road (north of Elm Grove)
|
58µg/m3
|
Monitor in different place
|
40%
|
48%
|
---|
Lewes Road Coombe Terrace
|
37µg/m3
|
17%
|
5%
|
19%
|
---|
Hollingdean Road
|
41µg/m3
|
13%
|
12%
|
27%
|
---|
For NO2 hotspots on Lewes Road (north of Elm Grove) an improvement of 40% is required to meet UK air quality standards. Additional improvement beyond that will be required to achieve the local target set out in this AQAP.
Prior to the pandemic, modelling source apportionment for NO2 along this transport corridor was as follows.
Figure 12: Source Apportionment AQMA1 Lewes Road Hollingdean Road Area 2019

Lewes Road (north of Elm Grove)
33% Minibuses and diesel cars
25% buses and coaches
18% domestic and commercial
10% heavy goods vehicles
8% regional background
5% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Lewes Road Coombe Terrace
36% Minibuses and diesel cars
23% domestic and commercial
15% regional background
14% buses and coaches
7% heavy goods vehicles
4% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Hollingdean Road
51% Minibuses and diesel cars
22% domestic and commercial
10% regional background
7% heavy goods vehicles
6% light goods vehicles and vans
3% buses and coaches
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
There are a mix of emission sources influencing the air quality along this major transport corridor and development area. Diesel cars and vans are the main contributors to NO2 along the corridor. A key action of the AQAP is to further reduce bus emissions which will benefit air quality especially along the route, that has a variety of business uses, retail, residential and high-rise student accommodation.
AQMA 2 – Rottingdean High Street
The coastal village of Rottingdean is surrounded by part of the South Downs National Park and has good clean air quality in the surrounding countryside. AQMA2 is influenced by road traffic emissions from the key routes of the A259 and the B2123 along Rottingdean High Street.
Most emissions are from diesel vehicles and often associated with waiting at, and pulling away from, the junction where the two main routes meet.
Figure 13: AQMA 2 Rottingdean High Street

AQMA 2 Rottingdean area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
Rottingdean High Street East
|
33µg/m3
|
17%
|
Already reached
|
9%
|
---|
Rottingdean High Street West
|
35µg/m3
|
15%
|
Already reached
|
17%
|
---|
Rottingdean Marine Drive
|
32µg/m3
|
Monitoring started 2018
|
Already reached
|
6%
|
---|
Sustained improvement is still required in this area to achieve our local target. This AQMA declaration is scheduled for review from 2025.
When compared to results from the monitor located on the seafront at Rottingdean, NO2 is twice as concentrated at the monitoring positions in the south of the High Street and next to Marine Drive.
AQMA3 South West Portslade
Figure 14: AQMA 3 South West Portslade

AQMA 3 South West Portslade area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
Trafalgar Road
|
40 µg/m3
|
11%
|
10%
|
25%
|
---|
Wellington Road
|
39 µg/m3
|
14%
|
8%
|
23%
|
---|
NO2 levels are close to exceeding UK standards on Trafalgar Road and Wellington Road, especially at the western end, near Church Road. Improvement is still required in this area to achieve the 30 µg/m3 local target.
Pre pandemic source apportionment is as follows:
Figure 15: Source Apportionment AQMA 3 South West Portslade Area 2019

Trafalgar Road
32% Minibuses and diesel cars
18% domestic and commercial
16% light goods vehicles and vans
16% heavy goods vehicles
10% buses and coaches
7% regional background
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
Wellington Road
36% Minibuses and diesel cars
27% domestic and commercial
13% heavy goods vehicles
10% buses and coaches
8% regional background
5% light goods vehicles and vans
1% petrol cars and motorbikes
AQMA 4 - Sackville Road/Old Shoreham Road junction
Figure 16: Sackville Road/ Old Shoreham Road junction

AQMA4 Sackville Road/Old Shoreham Road junction NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
Sackville Road/ Old Shoreham Road
|
35 µg/m3
|
21%
|
Already reached
|
14%
|
---|
Monitoring in 2019 suggests compliance with air quality standards around this junction. That said, it will be important that new development buildings do not further encroach on the junction, making exhaust emissions more concentrated.
Sustained improvement is still required in this area to achieve the 30 µg/m3 ambient NO2 local target. This will need to be further monitored as the AQMA is adjacent to construction and development sites.
AQMA 5 - South Street and Preston Road
Figure 17: South Street and Preston Road

AQMA 5 South Street and Preston Road area NO2 improvement required
Location
|
2019 N02 Level
|
Improvement between 2014 to 2019
|
Reduction needed to meet UK legal requirement
|
Reduction needed to meet local objective
|
---|
Preston Road (near Preston Drove)
|
35µg/m3
|
15%
|
Already reached
|
14%
|
---|
South Street (near The Drove)
|
40µg/m3
|
0%
|
10%
|
25%
|
---|
Monitoring since 2018 suggests air quality has improved substantially since the peak phases of construction for the Royal Sussex County Hospital expansion.
Perceptions of Air Quality
Alongside the monitoring and modelling shown above, we also need to consider the views of residents to demonstrate the support for further work in this area.
The council takes part in the annual NHT survey which consists of a randomised sample of residents from across the city.
In 2021, just 13% of respondents said they felt very well or fairly well informed about air quality alongside local roads while 70% feel not very well informed or not at all informed about this. Whilst some find the annual reports an invaluable reference, it suggests many people have not connected with the council’s reports on local air quality.
As well as this, 34% of respondents felt very well or fairly well informed about the level of pollution caused by traffic in the local area, whilst 57% feel not very well informed or not at all informed about this.
In terms of council priorities, 60% of respondents said it would be acceptable to improve the level of service by spending more on levels of traffic pollution, placing it amongst the top 5 priority areas for spending more.
Satisfaction with both traffic pollution and traffic levels and congestion is poor and has decreased from 2020.
NHT Results of Benchmark Indicators
Indicator
|
Brighton & Hove City Council 2021 satisfaction score
|
Brighton & Hove City Council 2020 Satisfaction score
|
Year on Year Change
|
Difference to NHT 2021 mean
|
Authority Rank (out of 111)
|
---|
Traffic Levels and Congestion
|
33%
|
35%
|
+2%
|
-7%
|
109
|
---|
Traffic Pollution
|
36%
|
34%
|
+2%
|
-10%
|
106
|
---|
For the public consultation in autumn 2021 on the LCWIP and initial LTP5 direction of travel document, respondents were asked to state how concerned they were about various issues in the city. Highest levels of concern overall relate to climate change (76.7% of respondents were extremely or moderately concerned about this) following the climate assembly, air pollution (73.3% of respondents were extremely or moderately concerned about this) and traffic congestion (68.6% of respondents were extremely or moderately concerned about this).
There were some variations in the level of concerns according to the type of journeys undertaken by respondents, including:
- respondents who travel longer distances are more concerned about traffic congestion than those travelling more locally
- air pollution, noise pollution, climate change and road safety are of least concern to those respondents using a car or van for all distance journeys
- personal safety is of most concern to respondents who walk or cycle for all journeys lengths asked about (around local neighbourhood, into city centre, across the city and leaving the city)