Hackney to set bold new targets to tackle air pollution
Residents and businesses are being invited to share their views on a new plan that would put Hackney at the forefront of UK efforts to improve air quality.
Hackney Council has launched a ten-week consultation on its draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), which outlines its five-year approach to delivering cleaner, healthier air across the borough.
Key proposals include adopting targets based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines, going beyond levels set in the UK’s current National Air Quality Objectives. This would see Hackney go further and faster than UK regulations to tackle the main air pollutants in the borough - nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5).
In Hackney, emissions of pollutants come from various sources. These include vehicle exhausts, vehicle brake and tyre wear, heating and power appliances (like gas boilers and diesel generators), construction dust, wood and coal burning, industrial processes, and commercial cooking.
Other focus areas of Hackney’s draft plan include continuing its initiatives designed to reduce emissions from road traffic, lowering emissions from construction and development, cleaning up heating and energy systems, engaging with schools, communities and healthcare professionals, and introducing a new focus on indoor air quality.
Hackney has made strong progress since the last AQAP was published in 2021, with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels down by around 45% since 2017, particularly at roadside monitoring locations. These improvements are being driven by initiatives such as Hackney’s traffic reduction schemes, emissions-based parking permits, School Streets and educational programmes, as well as a general shift towards cleaner vehicles and London-wide policies such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
However, particulate matter levels have not reduced in the same way. Construction sites, wood and coal burning, and emissions from the vehicle brakes, tyres and wheels remain key issues.
Air pollution is the greatest environmental risk to health in the UK. In Hackney, 7.8% of all deaths can be attributed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution. This is the third-highest air pollution-related mortality rate in London. Nationally, air pollution is linked to around 36,000 premature deaths each year — 20 times more than deaths caused by road traffic accidents.
Long-term exposure to pollutants increases the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, strokes, asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses. Air pollution is often higher in inner-London boroughs like Hackney, which have a high population density.
Hackney’s proposals respond to these challenges with more ambitious actions, as well as targeted measures to address problems that have emerged since the last plan.
The draft AQAP was developed using input from residents and groups in autumn 2024. The Council is now asking for feedback on the plan’s priorities and proposals to help shape the final version.
“Hackney has been working hard to improve the quality of the air we breathe, but there are still real risks to our health. This plan sets out some of the most ambitious air quality targets in the country, adding to the work we're already doing on our streets and in our homes, as well as introducing new approaches, like indoor air quality monitoring.
“Tell us what you think and help shape our plan for a fairer, healthier Hackney.”
Cllr Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport
The consultation is open until Friday 26 September 2025. To read the draft plan and complete the survey, visit: Bit.ly/HackneyAQAP