Clearing the air for a healthier, cleaner city

A network of new air quality monitors that record air pollution are being rolled out across the city, providing more data to help inform decisions for targeted air quality improvements.

Work is nearing completion on installing the monitors as the UK marks Clean Air Day on 20 June.

Petrol and diesel-powered vehicles are a major source of air pollution in Brighton & Hove. Increasing monitoring capacity will provide a more accurate indication of air quality in specific areas and help the council to put in place evidence-based policies to reduce pollution.

Air pollution can harm every organ in the body, causing heart and lung disease, dementia and strokes.

Using data collected by the monitors, the council will target improvement measures to protect the health of all residents, particularly those more vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality.

Alongside monitoring, the council is providing more accessible and cleaner travel options, including zero emissions buses and large-scale rollout of EV charging, as well as upgrading infrastructure and supporting residents to travel more safely and sustainably. These improvements provide more choice for people and help to reduce the number of vehicle journeys on our roads, which reduces emissions.

Dr Katie Cuming, Consultant in Public Health at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “We can all help keep the air clean in our city by travelling actively – walking, cycling, wheeling or taking public transport. Recent data has shown that Brighton & Hove is one of the most active cities in the country. 

“Travelling actively as part of your daily routine is one of the best ways to get all the physical and mental health benefits of moving more every day. It’s a real win-win for our health as it improves air quality too.”

For those who need to drive, Brighton & Hove has one of the best electric vehicle charging networks in the country. According to independent research, 77% of households with no off-street parking in the city now live within five minutes’ walk from a charger.

Last month the cost of charging went down at the 373 public charging sockets installed so far – with 120 more due to go in by the autumn.

Electric vehicle ownership is also going up. There are 3,000 plug-in electric vehicles registered to addresses in Brighton & Hove, an increase of around 1,000 since 2023.

We’re replacing old diesel vehicles in the council’s fleet. Four new electric trucks have just come on stream in the refuse and recycling service, bringing the number of council-owned electric vehicles to 72.

One council refuse truck covers around 220km in a week, making a big impact on reducing emissions from their journeys around the city.

Earlier this year a partnership between the council and Brighton & Hove Buses won nearly £3 million government funding for 16 electric buses. The new buses will improve air quality along route 7, an essential service that operates every 6-8 minutes in some of the city’s highest emission areas.

We are starting consultation with taxi and private hire drivers, operators, proprietors, and members of the public which will explore opportunities to transition taxis to electric vehicles for enhanced sustainability.

In June work starts on the A23 to make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, cycle, use public transport, and provide better visibility for drivers on a key route in the city.

Other initiatives include:

  • Providing more affordable and accessible bus services through an ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan
  • Introducing red routes and junction upgrades to improve traffic flow on main city routes and reduce congestion
  • Cycle hire: New figures released in March showed that users of Brighton & Hove’s cycle hire scheme replaced nearly 34,000 private vehicle journeys over the year. There are now more than 100 hubs around the city where you can hire and drop off a Beryl Bike
  • 150 cycle hangars with 900 spaces for residents to store their bikes safely
  • Collaborating with regional partners on a plan to reduce emissions at Shoreham Port. The project will support the growth of a low carbon economy and improved air quality for businesses and residents in the area
  • Ensuring new development proposals minimise pollution from heating and energy systems

How you can help keep the air clean