air quality progress report 2013 - oxford

Environmental Development

2014 Air Quality Progress Report In fulfilment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management May 2014

Local Authority Officer

Roger Pitman

Department Environmental Development

Address St Aldate’s Chambers, 109 St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1DS

Telephone 01865-252380

e-mail [email protected]

Report Reference number

Date May 2014

Oxford City Council

LAQM Progress Report 2014 1

Executive Summary

This report fulfils the requirements under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to provide an Annual Progress Report on Local Air Quality Management in Oxford covering 2013. The report provides an update on the annual progress report made covering 2012. A single Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for the whole of Oxford was declared in 2010 following the identification of a number of air pollution hotspots where the annual mean concentration for nitrogen dioxide had been exceeded. Ten year trends in local air quality across Oxford are showing significant signs of improvement. This is reflected within data from automatic monitoring stations and diffusion tube monitoring. Automatic monitoring station data for nitrogen dioxide now shows decreases in levels at both High St and St Aldate’s, following previous years (2009-2012) of recorded increases. Nitrogen Dioxide monitoring at diffusion tube sites, based upon 10 year trends (of 3yr averages) all show significant reductions. We typically see 15% reductions of nitrogen dioxide levels at roadside sites in the AQMA. The number of diffusion tube sites indicating results above the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide of 40 µg/m3 and 60 µg/m3 are also reducing. Results above the 60 µg/m3 level are indicative of an exceedence of the hourly mean objective of 200 µg/m3. The table below show the number of diffusion tubes in the City with results above objectives and indicate a reduction over the last 3 years:

2011 2012 2013

No. Results > 40 µg/m3 28 23 20

No. Results > 60 µg/m3 12 10 1 The following table highlights that the number of exceedences of the hourly objective of 200 µg/m

3

measured by continuous monitoring in St Aldate’s, has fallen below the allowed number of 18 exceedences per year

No. Exceedences > 200 µg/m3 35 55 11

Further evidence of improving air quality can be seen by considering that four of the 9 hotspot areas originally identified outside of central Oxford, are now no longer hotspots (with monitoring indicating concentrations of nitrogen dioxide reduced to below 40 µg/m

3).

As we have not identified any new areas that exceed air quality objectives, a detailed assessment is not required for any pollutant at this time. We expect to see a number of significant developments in future years that may have an impact on local transport including:

A redeveloped Westgate Shopping Centre with revisions to pedestrianisation and the bus priority route in central Oxford.

Oxford City Council


A new housing development at Barton, to the eastern side of the city, to provide around 1,000 new homes.

A mixed site for employment and housing at the Northern Gateway to the City.

During 2013 the City Council has taken some significant steps forward, through the development of two key interlinking policies:

Oxford City Council Low Emission Strategy 2013

Oxford City Council Air Quality Action Plan 2013 Both of these policies link to the City Council’s Sustainability Strategy and are intended to provide an integrated approach to managing emissions to air and their combined impact on climate and air pollution. This has led to the development of targets for reducing the carbon and air pollution impact of transport, as expressed within the Air Quality Action Plan 2013. The top level targets are based on emissions from surface transport across the city as follows:

a 35% reduction in transport CO2 emission from 2005 to 2020;

a 50% reduction in transport NOx and PM emissions from 2005 to 2020. We have also adopted a concentration based air quality target in the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), in relation to the national air quality standards and objectives to achieve mean NO2 concentrations levels of:

45 μg/m3 by 2020

40 μg/m3 by 2025. The AQAP recognises that the City Council cannot act in isolation in order to deliver a comprehensive package of measures, involving engagement and delivery from a wide set of stakeholders. Air pollution arises from activities we all contribute to, it is a shared problem and therefore the solutions need to be equally shared. We have identified transport emissions as the source requiring most attention, highlighting the links to the Local Transport Plan (LTP), which has priorities for delivering sustainable transport, reducing congestion and pollution. The LTP is required to support the objectives set out in this plan in order to tackle air pollution. The aim is to develop further measures with Oxfordshire County Council, through the updated Oxford Area Strategy, within the revised LTP4 due in 2014. Effective measures require co-operation from all sectors including transport policy and management, the Council’s priorities for new developments, freight management for business and commerce, and daily choices made by all transport users. Thus the AQAP not only focusses on measures the City Council needs to address, but looks to measures the City Council can influence, or work in partnership with others to address.

Oxford City Council


Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

1 Introduction 5

1.1 Description of Local Authority Area 5

1.2 Purpose of Progress Report 10

1.3 Air Quality Objectives 12

1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments 13

2 New Monitoring Data 18

2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken 18

2.2 Comparison of Monitoring Results with Air Quality Objectives 23

3 New Local Developments 32

3.1 Road Traffic Sources 32

3.2 Other Transport Sources 32

3.3 Industrial Sources 33

3.4 Commercial and Domestic Sources 33

3.5 New Developments with Fugitive or Uncontrolled Sources 33

4 Planning Applications 34

5 Air Quality Planning Policies 35

6 Local Transport Plans and Strategies 37

7 Climate Change Strategies 40

8 Implementation of Action Plans 41

9 Conclusions and Proposed Actions 43

9.1 Conclusions from New Monitoring Data 43

9.2 Conclusions relating to New Local Developments 44

9.3 Proposed Actions 44

10 References 45

Appendices

Appendix 1: QA/QC and Data validation

List of Tables

Oxford City Council


Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives

Table 1.2 Outcomes of the Previous Rounds of Review and Assessment

Table 2.1 Details of Automatic Monitoring Sites

Table 2.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites

Table 2.3 Results of Automatic Monitoring for Nitrogen Dioxide:

Comparison with Annual Mean Objective

Table 2.4 Results of Automatic Monitoring for Nitrogen Dioxide:

Comparison with Hourly Mean Objective

Table 2.5 Results of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tubes

Table 2.6 Results of PM10 Automatic Monitoring:


Table 2.7 Results of PM10 Automatic Monitoring:

Comparison with 24-hour Mean Objective

Table 2.8 Results of Benzene Monitoring:


Table 2.9 Results of Automatic Monitoring for Ozone:


Table 4.1 Planning applications for new developments

Table 8.1 Action Plan Progress

List of Figures

Figure 1 Administrative Boundaries of Oxfordshire

Figure 2 Key Diagram of Oxford’s Core Strategy

Figure 3 Planned Strategic Transport Investment

Figure 4 City-wide AQMA showing AQ hotspots

Figure 5 Location Map of Automatic Monitoring Sites

Figure 6 Diffusion tube sites within city boundary

Figure 7 Trends in Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration Measured at

Automatic Monitoring Sites

Figure 8 Trends in Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration Measured at

Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites

Figure 9 Trends in Annual Mean PM10 (2006-2012)

Oxford City Council


1 Introduction

This report fulfils the requirement on Oxford City Council to provide regular updates on the status of local air quality management (LAQM) and progress being made to achieve the statutory air quality objectives. The LAQM process forms a key part of the Government’s Air Quality Strategy to achieve the air quality objectives prescribed in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007, and detailed within the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) 2007. This report is an annual Progress Report for 2014, and follows the Progress Report for 2013. The format of the report follows the recommendations made within the policy and technical guidance issued by the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in documents LAQM PG(09), and TG(09).

1.1 Description of Local Authority Area

Oxford is the administrative centre of Oxfordshire, with a resident population of 151,900 (2013). It is a University City, as well as a commercial, business and shopping centre and has a daytime population of 180,000 with a large transient population, including an estimated 31,000 full-time students. Approximately 9.3 million people visit the City every year. It covers an area of 17.6 square miles. Its location in relation to the other Local Authorities and the administrative boundary of Oxford are shown below. Oxfordshire is the most rural county in the south east, with over half its population living in rural communities.

Figure 1 Administrative Boundaries of Oxfordshire

The city lies on the Thames River, about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of London, and is considered as a development and transport hub within the region. Oxford is centrally located within England, with easy access to international airports, the railway network, and the M40 motorway.

Oxford City Council


About half of Oxford’s workforce lives outside the city, which results in a high level of in-commuting and highlights the importance of transport links into the City. In 2001, around 40,000 people travelled into the city for work, and 15,000 Oxford residents commuted out of the city. Only 43% of Oxford’s workforce travel to work by car, which is the lowest proportion in the entire South East region and amongst the lowest in England and Wales.

Future Developments The development of local transport infrastructure has been recognised as a key driver for economic development within the City Council’s Core Strategy 2026 adopted in 2011 and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) adopted in 2014. The Strategic Economic Plan prioritises interventions in key locations, through the centre of the county with the three key areas for growth potential in population, employment and housing at Bicester, Oxford City and Science Vale Oxford. The projects identified in the SEP for delivering growth focus on the connectivity of the key hubs to the wider transport network locally, nationally and internationally. In this way, growth will drive benefits throughout the whole economy of Oxfordshire, the south east region, and nationally. Oxford City Council is the central Local Authority District within Oxfordshire, a centre of significant change, and a growth point. There are three strategic locations with future potential for significant growth in Oxford. This includes the allocation of one strategic employment site at the Northern Gateway (North), and the protection and modernisation of Oxford’s key employment sites. The West End Area (City centre) will provide some employment growth together with some residential development. The Land at Barton (North-East) will be developed principally for residential use (800-1200 dwellings). All of these developments, alongside the new Westgate centre will continue to put pressure on transport infrastructure both within and around Oxford particularly the local road network and potentially add to the impact of transport emissions on local air quality. The key diagram in Figure 2 below from the City Council’s Core Strategy highlights areas identified for regeneration within the City and priority areas for transportation and accessibility.

Oxford City Council


Figure 2: Key diagram Oxford’s Core Strategy

Oxford City Council


The diagram in Figure 3 below from the SEP highlights planned strategic transport investment around Oxford.

Figure 3: Planned Strategic Transport Investment

Oxford City Council


Current Air Quality Management Area The centre of Oxford has been declared as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) since 2001, with modifications in 2003. An Air Quality Action Plan was jointly developed with Oxfordshire County Council, and integrated within the Local Transport Plan in 2006. A city-wide AQMA was declared in 2010 following the identification of a total of eight air pollution hot spots within the 2008 Detailed Assessment Report, as shown below in Figure 4.

Figure 4 City-wide AQMA showing Air Quality hotspots (boundary in black) As a result, a city-wide Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) has been adopted in 2013 which aims to take an integrated approach to considering measures to reduce carbon and air pollution emissions. This reflects the approach adopted within the city-wide Low Emission Strategy (LES) to consider further options for integrating local policies. The LES highlights the links between policies that impact across all sectors with particular emphasis on considering the combined impacts of policies on all emissions (i.e greenhouse gas, carbon, and air pollution). The new AQAP includes an ambition to develop a low carbon plan for transport, alongside renewing targets for reducing emissions from transport sources in the city. The air quality problems encountered in Oxford are focussed on the impacts of transport generated air pollution. They typically occur in local centres, the city centre, and some of the busiest junctions, mostly roundabouts with the ring-road on the edge of the city. Previous Local Air Quality Management Reports have documented the areas of poor air quality within the city. The extent of poor air quality is generally restricted to within 20 metres of the roadside.

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Oxford City Council


Emissions in the city-centre are significantly influenced by buses and coaches, comprising more than 60% of the total traffic emissions. The Oxford Low Emission Zone (LEZ) came into force in January 2014 by a Traffic Regulation condition imposing a Euro V emission standard on buses operating in central Oxford. The Traffic Regulation Order that imposes the condition on the bus operator’s licence, became law in March 2013, with implementation from 2014.

1.2 Purpose of Progress Report

This report represents the third stage within Round 5 of the Review and Assessment process, each round comprising a three year cycle involving an Updating and Screening Assessment (USA), followed by a Detailed Assessment when required, and Progress reports in the intervening years. Round 5 Assessments began in 2012 with a USA report (USA2012), followed by a Progress Report in 2013. All previous reports have been submitted and approved by DEFRA and are available on the City Council website:- http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decER/Previous_reports_occw.htm The first reports under the LAQM process in Oxford were produced in 1999, and began a process of highlighting the significance of the impact of traffic pollution on local air quality. The air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide, both annual mean and hourly mean have been identified as being exceeded in areas dominated by traffic. This has now resulted in the declaration of a city-wide air quality management area (AQMA), being declared in 2010 as described above. The purpose of the progress report is to consider the following:- New monitoring results

Show monitoring site types and locations

Provide an annual update based upon the latest results of air quality monitoring for the pollutants regulated within the national air quality strategy

Highlight results for any new monitoring sites, provide summary data to highlight annual trends

New local developments

Identify and list new developments that may affect air quality, particularly those developments that may have an impact on air quality through traffic generation

Further reporting in relation to:- Additional monitoring data

Projecting forward measured concentrations to objective target dates

Results of other air pollution monitoring, not covered by the regulations

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decER/Previous_reports_occw.htm

Oxford City Council


Air Quality Action Plans

Progress on measures identified within the action plan Local or Regional Air Quality Strategies

Developments in Local or Regional Air Quality Strategies Planning Policy

Updates in Planning Policy Local Development Framework (LDF)

Supplementary Planning Guidance Planning Applications

List of applications with the potential to affect air quality

Knowledge of planned major developments Local Transport Plans

Progress on all measures identified within LTPs that will improve air quality

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1.3 Air Quality Objectives

The air quality objectives applicable to LAQM in England are set out in the Air Quality

(England) Regulations 2000 (SI 928), The Air Quality (England) (Amendment)

Regulations 2002 (SI 3043), and are shown in Table 1.1. This table shows the

objectives in units of microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m3) (milligrammes per cubic

metre (mg/m3) for carbon monoxide) with the number of exceedences in each year

that are permitted (where applicable).

Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives included in Regulations for the purpose of

LAQM in England

Pollutant Air Quality Objective Date to be

achieved by Concentration Measured as

Benzene 16.25 µg/m3 Running annual

mean 31.12.2003

5.00 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2010

1,3-Butadiene 2.25 µg/m3 Running annual

mean 31.12.2003

Carbon monoxide 10 mg/m3 Running 8-hour

mean 31.12.2003

Lead 0.50 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2004

0.25 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2008

Nitrogen dioxide

200 µg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a

year

1-hour mean 31.12.2005

40 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2005

Particulate Matter (PM10)

(gravimetric)

50 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a

year

24-hour mean 31.12.2004

40 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2004

Sulphur dioxide

350 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more

than 24 times a year

1-hour mean 31.12.2004

125 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year

24-hour mean 31.12.2004

266 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more

than 35 times a year

15-minute mean 31.12.2005

Oxford City Council


1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments

A summary of the results of the previous rounds of review and assessment of air quality in Oxford are shown in table 1 below.

Table 1.2 Outcomes of the Previous Rounds of Review and Assessment

ROUND 1 Review and Assessment

Review Process

Objectives likely to be met

Objectives not likely to be met

Comments

Stage 1 and Stage 2 January 1999.

Carbon Monoxide, Benzene,

1,3 Butadiene, Lead.

Nitrogen Dioxide,

Particulate Matter,

Sulphur Dioxide.

Main emission source is road traffic for nitrogen dioxide and

particulate matter. Possibility of short-term exceedences of 15

min SO2 objective due to Didcot Power Station. Further review of SO2 emissions from small boilers

Stage 3 required for NO2.

Stage 3 January 2001.


1,3 Butadiene, Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide, PM10 Particulate

Matter.

Nitrogen Dioxide.

Recommended declaration of AQMA for the city centre based upon exceedence of annual NO2

objective, mainly due to road traffic emissions. PM10

Particulate Matter and SO2

examined at this stage. Not considered necessary to proceed

further.

Stage 4 July 2003.



Sulphur Dioxide, PM10 Particulate

Matter.

Nitrogen Dioxide.

Confirmation of existing AQMA, with some geographical

additions. Highlights the impact of streets with high proportion of

buses and HGVs, and the significance of bus stops and congested traffic in the central

area.

Oxford City Council


Table 1.2 (continued): Outcomes of the Previous Rounds of Review and Assessment


Review Process



Comments

Updating and

Screening Assessment

Report November

2003.



Sulphur Dioxide.

Nitrogen Dioxide,

PM10 Particulate Matter.

Concluded that a detailed assessment was required for

nitrogen dioxide outside the AQMA, and for PM10 particulate matter

inside the AQMA.

Detailed Assessment Report June

2004.

Carbon Monoxide,

Benzene, 1,3 Butadiene,

Lead, Sulphur Dioxide.

Nitrogen Dioxide,

PM10 Particulate Matter.

Recommended declaration of AQMA for Green Road roundabout based upon exceedence of annual NO2 objective. Further assessment required at other locations. Some exceedence of hourly mean NO2

objective in AQMA. Further review for PM10 Particulate Matter

objective for 2010.

Progress Report 2005

Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide

PM10 Particulate Matter (2004 objectives)

Nitrogen Dioxide

PM10 Particulate Matter (2010 objectives)

Nitrogen Dioxide hourly objective met. Annual mean objective

exceeded at Green Road Roundabout, new AQMA declared.

Further assessments when updated traffic data available.

Further monitoring in AQMA to assess compliance with annual

PM10 objective for 2010

2006 Air Quality

Action Plan adopted

Nitrogen Dioxide

Air Quality Action Plan integrated into forthcoming LTP2 (2006-

2011), with targets in LTP

Oxford City Council




Updating and

Screening Assessment Report April

2006

Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide

PM10 Particulate Matter

Nitrogen Dioxide

Detailed Assessment required for annual and hourly mean objective for Nitrogen Dioxide, at locations

identified within the report.

Consider Detailed Assessment at a later stage for 2010 annual mean

PM10 objective.

Detailed Assessment Report April

2007

Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

Further Assessment required for annual mean objective at locations

identified within the report, including re-defining existing

AQMA’s.

Progress Report and

Detailed Assessment May 2008

Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

Amendments to existing AQMA’s in Central Oxford and Green Road roundabout. New AQMA’s at six

further locations as defined in the report for exceedences of annual

mean objective for Nitrogen Dioxide.

Oxford City Council




Review Process



Comments

Updating and

Screening Assessment Report 2009

Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

Upheld conclusions of 2008 Detailed Assessment. Council to

declare a City-wide AQMA to encompass all the AQ hotspots. Continued exceedence of the

annual mean objective for Nitrogen Dioxide, at locations identified

within the report.


Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

Trends in monitoring data highlight general reductions in

concentrations across the city, with a few increases. No evidence of further hot-spots identified from new monitoring sites. City wide

AQMA will require air quality assessments of future major

developments.


Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

Recent trends highlight increases in pollution concentrations,

highlighting the impact of two extreme winters and changes to

bus priority routes.

Oxford City Council




Review Process



Comments

Updating and

Screening Assessment Report 2012

Carbon Monoxide,


Lead,

Sulphur Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

Shows trends of increasing NO2 since 2009, in central Oxford

2013 AQAP adopted

Nitrogen Dioxide

Air Quality Action Plan to be integrated into forthcoming LTP4

(2015-2030



1,3 Butadiene, Lead, Sulphur

Dioxide


Nitrogen Dioxide

The monitoring carried out over the previous year provides evidence of continued exceedence of both the

annual mean and hourly mean objectives, particularly in busy

streets in central Oxford.

Oxford City Council


2 New Monitoring Data

2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken

2.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Sites

Table 2.1 Details of Automatic Monitoring Sites

* Oxford St Aldate’s Automated Urban Network (SO2, CO discontinued at Oxford St Aldate’s from 2007)

**St Ebbe’s Affiliated site to Automated Urban Network (FDMS PM10 and PM2.5 added in December 2008)

Figure 5 Location Map of Automatic Monitoring Sites

Site Name Site Type OS Grid Ref Pollutants Monitored

In AQMA

?

Relevant Exposure?

(Y/N with distance (m) to

relevant exposure)

Distance to kerb of

nearest road (N/A if not applicable)

Worst-case

Location?

St Aldate’s*

AUN

Urban Centre

X 451359

Y 206152 NO2 Y Y (1m) 3m Y

High Street

Urban Centre

X 451677

Y 206272

NO2

PM10 Y Y (1m) 2m Y

St Ebbe’s**

AUN

Urban Background

X 451164

Y 205386

NO2

PM2.5

PM10

Ozone

Y Y (10m) 4m N

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2.1.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring

The following sites comprise locations where diffusion tube measurements were conducted during 2013.

Table 2.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites

Site Name Site Type

OS Grid Ref Pollutants Monitored

In AQMA?

Relevant Exposure?

(Y/N with distance (m) to relevant

exposure)

Distance to kerb of

nearest road (N/A if not applicable)

Worst-case

Location?

ABINGDON Rd / WEIRS LANE R 451902 204197 NO2 Y Y(2m) ~2m Y

WEIRS LANE 1 R 451903 204214 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

WEIRS LANE 2 R 451921 204204 NO2 Y Y(2m) ~2m Y

ABINGDON ROAD R 451914 204153 NO2 Y N ~2m Y

THAMES STREET K 450924 205789 NO2 Y Y (<1m) ~3m Y

THAMES/TRINITY STREET R 450889 205823 NO2 Y Y(~5m) ~20m N

THAMES/OXPENS K 451031 205958 NO2 Y N ~1m Y

PIKE TERRACE UB 451206 205779 NO2 Y Y ~29m Y

SPEEDWELL/LITTLEGATE R 451265 205703 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

BUTTERWYKE / THAMES R 451417 205645 NO2 Y Y (5m) ~2m Y

SPEEDWELL STREET(Floyd’s Row)

R 450670 206053

NO2 Y Y (1m) ~3m Y

HOLLYBUSH / OSNEY LANE K 450563 206221 NO2 Y Y (2m) ~2m Y

BECKETT ST/PK END STREET R 450885 206276 NO2 Y Y (<1m) ~3m Y

FRIDESWIDE SQUARE

Royal Oxford Hotel R

450673 206270 NO2 Y Y ~2.5m Y

FRIDESWIDE SQ rear footpath R 450640 206241 NO2 Y Y (<1m) ~8m Y

HYTHE BRIDGE ST R 450793 206342 NO2 Y Y ~4m Y

Oxford City Council


Site Name Site Type


In AQMA?

Relevant Exposure?


relevant exposure)

Distance to kerb of

nearest road

(N/A if not applicable)

Worst-case Location?

PARK END ST K 451044 206210 NO2 Y Y(2m) ~3m Y

NEW RD R 450945 206433 NO2 Y Y(2m) ~3.5m Y

WORCESTER ST R 451167 206518 NO2 Y Y(2m) ~2m Y

GEORGE ST K 450965 206345 NO2 Y Y (2m) <1m Y

GEORGE ST/MAGDALEN ST K 451223 206398 NO2 Y Y(2m) <1m Y

BEAUMONT ST K 451218 206565 NO2 Y Y (2m) <1m Y

ST GILES ASHMOLEAN R 451180 206895 NO2 Y Y (2m) ~3m Y

LONGWALL ST K 451968 206269 NO2 Y Y (1m) ~1m Y

HIGH ST K 451574 206231 NO2 Y Y (2m) <1m Y

HIGH(rpm) R 451466 206222 NO2 Y Y ~2.5m Y

50 HIGH STREET R 451893 206252 NO2 Y Y ~2.5m Y

CORNMARKET ST R 451323 206233 NO2 Y Y N/A Y

ST ALDATE’S K 451360 206147 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

QUEEN ST K 451266 206142 NO2 Y Y N/A Y

BONN SQ K 451203 206128 NO2 Y Y ~3m Y

YORK PLACE R 452328 206013 NO2 Y N (3m) ~10m N

ST CLEMENT’S K 452661 206073 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

Oxford City Council


Site Name Site Type


In AQMA?

Relevant Exposure?


relevant exposure)

Distance to

kerb of nearest

road

(N/A if not applicable

)

Worst-case Location?

LP 67 GREEN RD R 455654 207170 NO2 Y N ~5m ~2m Y

ROUNDWAY PRECINCT R 455594 207365 NO2 Y Y ~5m Y

29 GREEN ROAD R 455594 207315 NO2 Y Y ~8.5m Y

LENTHALL RD ALLOTMENTS B 452792 203524 NO2 Y N N/A N

ST EBBE’S First School B 451174 205387 NO2 Y Y ~3m N

COWLEY / LEOPOLD RD R 453134 205515 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

COWLEY / DIVINITY RD R 453156 205525 NO2 Y Y ~3m Y

COWLEY / BULLINGDON RD R 452884 205667 NO2 Y Y (~3m) ~2m Y

COWLEY / UNION ST R 452778 205720 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

COWLEY ROAD / Nr 16 R 452353 205911 NO2 Y Y ~2m Y

HOLLOW WAY / BENNET COURT R 454651 204285 NO2 Y Y ~3m Y

HOLLOW WAY / NR 113 R 454803 204609 NO2 Y Y ~3m Y

HOLLOW WAY / HOPKINS COURT R 454814 204634 NO2 Y Y ~3m Y

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Figure 6 Diffusion tube sites within city boundary

Sites monitored during 2013

Sites not monitored during 2013

Oxford City Council


Comparison of Monitoring Results with Air Quality Objectives

2.1.3 Nitrogen Dioxide Results



Nitrogen dioxide 200 µg/m3 not to be

exceeded more than 18 times a year

40 µg/m3

1-hour mean

Annual mean

31.12.2005

31.12.2005

Automatic Monitoring Data

Table 2.3 Results of Automatic Monitoring for Nitrogen Dioxide: Comparison with

Annual Mean Objective (40 g/m3)

MONITORING

SITE

Within AQMA?

Relevant Public

Exposure?

YEAR

Data

Capture

Annual

Mean

NO2

g/m3

Hourly Mean

NO2

g/m3 No

HRS >200

Max Hour

Oxford

Centre

(Roadside)

Yes Yes

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

85

92

98

94

97

97

56

62

61

58

50

51

11

55

35

1

0

3

400

252

279

202

160

231

Oxford

St Ebbe's

(Urban background)

Yes Yes

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

99

83

94

96

83

82

18

19

18

22

23

19

0

3

0

0

0

0

117

235

111

128

153

96

Oxford High St

(Roadside)

Yes Yes

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

85

99

94

92

77

81

50

58

53

60

55

54

1

3

3

2

0

6

206

233

212

344

181

271

Oxford City Council


Figure 7 Trends in Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration Measured at Automatic Monitoring Sites.

The chart below highlights the trends in annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations between 2005 and 2013 as measured at the continuous monitoring sites in Oxford.

Table 2.4 Results of Automatic Monitoring for Nitrogen Dioxide: Comparison with 1-hour Mean Objective

Site ID

Location Within AQMA?

Relevant Public

Exposure?

Y/N

Data Capture for full

calendar year 2013 %

Number of Exceedences of hourly

mean (200 g/m3) (Where the period of valid data is less

than 90% of a full year, the 99.8th percentile of hourly means is shown in

brackets.)

2010 2011 2012 2013

Oxford Centre Y Y 92 1 35 55 11

Oxford High St Y Y 98 2 3 3 1

Oxford St Ebbe’s Y Y 83 0 0 3 0(71)

Diffusion Tube Monitoring Data

The following sites comprise locations where diffusion tube measurements were conducted during 2011-13. Sampling is carried out for 10 months/year from February to November. Results are presented as microgrammes per cubic metre of nitrogen

Oxford City Council


dioxide, comparable to the annual mean objective value of 40 µg/m3. Sites are highlighted in terms of whether the annual mean of 40 µg/m3 or indicative hourly mean of 60 µg/m3 are exceeded. Table 2.5 Results of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tubes

Location In

AQMA?

Relevant Public

Exposure?

Data Capture

for 2013 %

Annual Mean Concentrations (ug/m

3)

2011 2012 2013

WEIRS LANE 1 Y Y 100 NR NR 35

WEIRS LANE 2 Y Y 100 NR NR 29

ABINGDON ROAD Y N 90 NR NR 40

THAMES ST Y Y 100 45 43 44

THAMES/TRINITY ST Y Y 100 26 23 22

THAMES/OXPENS Y Y 90 34 32 31

PIKE TERR Y Y 100 43 39 32

SPEEDWELL/

LITTLEGATE

Y

Y 100

51 47 42

BUTTERWYKE / THAMES

Y Y 100

40 37 35

*FLOYD'S ROW/SPEEDWELL ST

Y Y 80

66 68 55

HOLLYBUSH / OSNEY LN

Y Y 90

40 35 33

BECKETT ST/PK END ST

Y Y 100

37 36 36

FRIDESWIDE SQ Royal Oxford Hotel

Y Y 100 57 50 47

FRIDESWIDE SQ rear footpath

Y Y 100 71 64 55

BOTLEY ROAD Y Y 100 44 39 NR

BOTLEY ROAD (N) Y Y 100 40 36 NR

BOTLEY ROAD/ HILL VIEW ROAD

Y Y 100 37 34 NR

BOTLEY ROAD / ABBEY ROAD

Y Y 100 38 36 NR

HYTHE BRIDGE ST Y Y 100 60 53 43

PARK END ST Y Y 100 58 55 55

NEW RD Y Y 100 65 58 54

WORCESTER ST Y Y 100 66 64 54

GEORGE ST Y Y 100 80 66 58

GEORGE ST/MAG ST Y Y 100 65 62 50

BEAUMONT ST Y Y 90 57 49 42

Oxford City Council


ST GILES ASHMOLEAN Y Y 100 52 48 NR

KEBLE RD Y Y 100 41 37 NR

UNIV SCI LIB-PARKS RD Y Y 90 50 40 NR

HIGH ST Y Y 100 76 70 58

HIGH(Covered Market) Y Y 90 50 47 41

50 HIGH STREET Y Y 100 66 65 56

CORNMARKET ST Y Y 100 42 34 29

ST ALDATE’s Y Y 100 67 61 55

*QUEEN ST Y Y 100 51 49 43

*BONN SQ Y Y 100 57 49 41

BROAD St Y Y 100 40 36 NR

LONGWALL ST Y Y 100 75 63 53

YORK PLACE Y Y 100 50 39 31

ST CLEMENTS Y Y 100 85 85 70

SUMMERTOWN Parade Y Y 100 42 39 NR

BEECHCROFT Rd Y Y 100 32 28 NR

THORNCLIFFE Rd Y Y 100 28 26 NR

WOODSTOCK RD (Flats at Roundabout)

Y Y 100 45 43 NR

SUNDERLAND AVE

(No. 78)

Y Y 90 40 43 NR

SUMMERS PLACE Y Y 100 45 39 NR

ELSFIELD Road Y Y 100 46 38 NR

LP 67 GREEN RD Y Y 100 46 46 36

ROUNDWAY PRECINCT Y Y 100 45 43 37

29 GREEN ROAD Y Y 100 43 40 34

LENTHALL RD ALLOTMENTS

Y Y 100 21 19 20

St EBBE’s First School Y Y 100 21 22 20

COWLEY/ TEMPLE SQ Y Y 90 NR NR 35

COWLEY/ BETWEEN TOWNS RD

Y Y 100 NR NR 34

COWLEY/ OXFORD RD1 Y Y 100 NR NR 36

COWLEY/ OXFORD RD2 Y Y 100 NR NR 37

COWLEY / LEOPOLD RD Y Y 90 NR NR 32

COWLEY / DIVINITY RD Y Y 90 NR NR 36

COWLEY / BULLINGDON RD

Y Y 100 NR NR 30

COWLEY / UNION ST Y Y 100 NR NR 40

COWLEY ROAD / Nr 16 Y Y 100 NR NR 39

HOLLOW WAY / Y Y 90 NR NR 33

Oxford City Council


BENNET COURT

HOLLOW WAY / NR 113 Y Y 100 NR NR 33

HOLLOW WAY / HOPKINS COURT

Y Y 100 NR NR 34

(# Bias Correction applied 2011:1.18; 2012:1.07; 2013;0.96) NR – Not Monitored, NO RESULT

Shaded cells indicate exceedence of the 40 µg/m3 annual mean objective for Nitrogen Dioxide

Darkly shaded cells indicate an exceedence of the 60 µg/m3 indicative of an exceedence of the hourly

mean, as well as the annual mean of 40 µg/m3

Figure 8 Trends in Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration Measured at Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites

The chart above highlights trends by groups of results representing as follows:- R/S AQMA – Roadside results in central Oxford AQMA These results show a 15% reduction in roadside air pollution levels over a 10 year period Bus Priority- Roadside results on streets within the bus priority route These results show a 19% reduction in roadside air pollution levels over a 10 year period AUN – Central Oxford site for AUN station in St Aldate’s, within AQMA and Bus Priority These results show a 5% reduction in roadside air pollution levels over a 10 year period St Ebbe’s- Urban background site, close to central area These results show a 20% reduction in background air pollution levels over a 10 year period

Oxford City Council


2.1.4 Particulate Matter Monitoring Results



Particles (PM10) (gravimetric)

50 µg/m3, not to be exceeded

more than 35 times a year

40 µg/m3

24-hour mean

Annual mean

31.12.2004

31.12.2004

Particles (PM2.5 )

Exposure reduction

25 µg/m3

Target of 15% reduction at urban background

Annual mean 2020

Table 2.6 Results of PM10 Automatic Monitoring: Comparison with Annual Mean Objective

Location Within

AQMA?


calendar year

2013 %

*PM10

Annual mean concentrations (g/m3)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Oxford High Street

Y 89 25 26 23 22 24

Oxford St Ebbe’s

Y 95 17 17 17 17 20

Location Within

AQMA?


calendar year

2013 %

~PM2.5

Annual mean concentrations (g/m3)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Oxford St Ebbe’s

Y 94 11 14 12 12 14

PM10 measurements up to January 2009 were made with R&P TEOM and results for this period have been corrected by a factor of 1.3 for Indicative Gravimetric Equivalent

PM10 Measurements from January 2009 were made with R&P FDMS TEOM with no correction

[*PM10 Indicative Gravimetric Equivalent (TEOM measurement x 1.3)]

[~ PM25 instruments: FDMS (no correction)] N/A Indicate results not yet available

The High Street site is representative of relevant public exposure on footpaths in central Oxford that are adjacent to main traffic routes through the city centre.

The St Ebbe’s site is representative of relevant public exposure in locations away from main traffic routes in central Oxford, highlighting the range of exposures evident within the central area.

Oxford City Council


For the 2004 objectives: The annual mean concentrations are less than 40 µg/m3, There are less than 35, 24-hour exceedences of 50 µg/m3

Table 2.7 Results of PM10 Automatic Monitoring: Comparison with 24-hour Mean Objective

Location Within

AQMA?

Data Capture

2013 %

Number of Exceedences of daily mean objective

(50 g/m3)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

High Street Y 89 6 7 1 3 0

St Ebbe’s Y 95 0 1 5 5 5

Both the Oxford High Street Site and the Oxford St Ebbe’s School Sites meet the requirements of the annual mean objective and the daily mean objectives for particulate matter.

Figure 9 Trends in Annual Mean PM10 (2006-2013)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

PM

10u

g/m

3

Particulate Matter PM10 Annual Mean

HighStreet

Oxford City Council


2.1.5 Benzene Monitoring Results

Pollutant

Air Quality Objective Date to be achieved by

Concentration Measured as

Benzene

16.25 µg/m3

Running annual mean

31.12.2003

5.00 µg/m3 Running annual mean

31.12.2010

Table 2.8 Results of Benzene Monitoring: Comparison with Annual Mean Objective

YEAR Oxford Centre Annual mean

concentrations (g/m3)

Oxford St Ebbe's Annual mean concentrations

(g/m3)

2007 0.81 n/a

2008 0.71 0.47

2009 0.74 0.49

2010 0.73 0.54

2011 0.68 0.48

2012 0.63 0.56

2013 0.78 (P) 0.66(P)

(P) Provisional results

The running annual means are significantly less than 16.25 µg/m3

There are no running annual means greater than 5.00 µg/m3

The High Street site is representative of relevant public exposure on footpaths in central Oxford that are adjacent to main traffic routes through the city centre. The St Ebbe’s site is representative of relevant public exposure in locations away from main traffic routes in central Oxford, highlighting the range of exposures evident within the central area.

There are no exceedences of either objective for benzene.

Oxford City Council


2.1.6 Other Monitoring Results : Ozone

Pollutant Standard Measured as Concentration

Specific objective to be achieved

Ozone* 100g/m

3 daily maximum

of running 8-hour mean

UK AQ objective: not to be exceeded more than 10 times a year by 31/12/05

EU Directive Target of 120μg.m-3 not to be exceeded more than 25 times a year averaged over 3 years

*Ozone does not have an objective set within the UK Air Quality Regulations; it is considered as a national objective but not included in Regulations for the purposes of Local Air Quality Management. Thus it is treated as a national problem and does not fall within local authority controls.

The results below highlight that the UK AQ objective for ozone, expressed as

100g/m3 daily maximum of running 8-hour mean is not met. 42 exceedences of this standard were recorded during 2013, where the standard permits 10 exceedences during a year.

Table 2.9 Results of Automatic Monitoring for Ozone:

MONITORING

SITE

YEAR

OZONE g/m3

running 8-hour mean Running 8-hour mean > 100 µg m

-3

Max Mean No. exceedences

No. Days

Oxford St Ebbe’s

(Urban background)

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

164

152

127

131

171

130

128

197

132

37

36

39

52

47

41

40

46

40

42

38

37

60

97

49

56

204

60

8

5

7

13

18

10

10

29

12

2.1.7 Summary of Compliance with AQS Objectives

Oxford City Council has examined the results from monitoring in the city of Oxford. Monitoring results continue to highlight exceedences of the hourly and annual mean objectives for nitrogen dioxide, particularly in central Oxford and at busy traffic junctions. The boundary of the AQMA now corresponds to the City boundary, therefore there is no need to proceed to a Detailed Assessment. This conclusion takes into account the declaration of a city-wide Air Quality Management

Area, as described in the introduction.

Oxford City Council


3 New Local Developments

3.1 Road Traffic Sources

3.2 Other Transport Sources

Oxford City Council confirms that there are no new or newly identified local developments that may have an impact on air quality within the Local Authority area.

Oxford City Council has identified the following new or previously unidentified local development, which may impact on air quality in the Local Authority area. The Chiltern Railways Evergreen 3 Project outlined within the previous Progress Report was subject to a Public Inquiry from November 2010-January 2011. The Public Inquiry was re-opened in 2012, and the Transport and Works Order enabling the project to go ahead was approved by the Transport Minister in October 2012. The project was finally approved in May 2013, following a High Court decision following a judicial challenge of the Secretary of State original award of the powers. The development will double the track between Oxford and Bicester Town and link it to the existing Marylebone to Birmingham line, providing a second commuter rail route into London. Chiltern Railways plan to open the line and operate services from Oxford's new parkway station close to Water Eaton from the summer of 2015 with the full line to Oxford expected to open in spring 2016. The project has been subject to Environmental Impact Assessment, highlighting that it is not expected to result in significant impacts on air quality. The Barton Area Action Plan was adopted by the Council in December 2012 with outline planning approved in May 2013 for development up to 885 residential units alongside a new primary school, to the north of the A40. The development is expected to start delivering new homes from late 2015. Central Oxford will see the development of a new Westgate shopping centre, following the grant of outline planning permission in March 2014. It will include about 100 new shops and 122 homes, a cinema, and basement car park. The development is a key platform of the generation of Oxford’s West End. The development is likely to lead to further changes in the transport network in the city centre, including full pedestrianisation of Queen Street, involving changes to the bus priority route.

Oxford City Council


3.3 Industrial Sources

3.4 Commercial and Domestic Sources

3.5 New Developments with Fugitive or Uncontrolled Sources

Oxford City Council confirms that there are no new or newly identified local developments which may have an impact on air quality within the Local Authority area.

Oxford City Council confirms that there are no new or newly identified local developments which may have an impact on air quality within the Local Authority area.

Oxford City Council has identified the following new or previously unidentified local development, which may impact on air quality in the Local Authority area.

Planned Biomass combustion plant:

Oxford City Council. Blackbird Leys Swimming Pool micro-CHP and Biomass Boiler to 850MWh/yr.

Planned Combined Heat and Power Plant: John Radcliffe Hospital, 4.3MWe. Planning Permission Granted Nov 2013

Oxford City Council


4 Planning Applications

The following details relate to developments that have been subject to a Planning Application, where it considered that an impact on air quality is likely.

Planning Application (Approved?)

Air Quality Assessment?

Significant impact on Air Quality?

Scheme Implemented

Westgate Centre

Yes

Overall assessment shows some impact requiring mitigation

which is being secured via condition

No Resolution by OCC to grant outline planning

permission, March 2014.

Barton Housing

Development 1,000 houses

Outline Application May 2013

Yes

AQ assessment

shows main risk is dust during

construction.

Outline planning

permission granted October 2013

Chiltern Railways

Yes

No

Under development. Project given go-ahead following Public Inquiry.

Includes provision for new station at Water

Eaton-Oxford Parkway from 2015

These developments were reported in the previous Progress Report, and have not yet been implemented, as highlighted in the table above.

Table 4.1 Planning applications for new developments which have not yet been approved but which could impact upon air quality are listed below

Site details Planning Application Significant impact on

Air Quality? Scheme

Implementation

Northern Gateway No.

No plans considered for assessment at

this stage Mixed employment (90000m2) & up to 800 houses, plus

hotel

Area Action Plan Possible start in

2016

The Council’s air quality planning policies documented below highlight how developments taking place in the city are discouraged from the use of private motor vehicles.

Oxford City Council


5 Air Quality Policies

Oxford’s Local Plan (formerly the Local Development Framework) is the statutory Development Plan for Oxford, and continues to be the starting point in the consideration of planning applications for the development or use of land unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The development plan contains two key documents: the Oxford Core Strategy 2026 and the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 (OLP). The overarching aim of the policies contained in these documents is to deliver sustainable development.

The planning system has an important role to play in the protection of air quality by ensuring that land use decisions do not adversely affect the air quality in the AQMA, or in other areas where air quality objectives are unlikely to be met. A development will be assessed against its direct effect on air quality, and also the effect of the traffic it generates. The OLP contains a saved policy CP23 which deals directly with AQMA’s. This policy states that:

‘Planning permission will not be granted for development which would have a net adverse impact upon the air quality in the Air Quality Management Area, or in other areas where air quality objectives are unlikely to be met.’

The Core Strategy contains policy CS14 which sets out a range of commitments to support city-wide movement, and includes implementing a Low Emissions Strategy to directly deal with air quality. This policy states that:

‘The City Council will work with its partners to improve the ease and quality of access to and between the city and district centres, and other key destinations, by: ….

…• implementing a Low Emissions Strategy to improve air quality, which could lead to a Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) in the city centre…’

The Core Strategy and Oxford Local Plan both include policies aimed at reducing the need to travel, particularly by private car, and to give people greater choice in the way they travel by walking, cycling and public transport, which has a clear direct benefit for local air quality.

The Core Strategy also includes policies to tackle climate change, by promoting low and zero carbon developments, which have a knock-on benefit for air quality.

Oxford’s Local Plan also contains other development plan documents such as the Sites and Housing Plan (2001-2026), Barton Area Action Plan and West End Area Action plan, all of which promote low carbon developments and lifestyles.

Oxford Air Quality Action Plan 2013

Oxford City Council adopted a new Air Quality Action Plan in December 2013.

The 2013 Air Quality Action Plan aims to influence the delivery of air quality related transport measures in the city, and links to the Local Transport Plan (LTP) as the key delivery mechanism for wider transport measures which is managed and delivered by the County Council as the highways authority.

The key themes of the AQAP to reduce emissions across the city will be:

Support for development of Sustainable Transport Measures

Support for the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles

Oxford City Council


Reducing freight emissions from Light Goods Vehicles and Heavy Goods Vehicles

Planning for sustainable transport

Managing the Council's transport emissions

The success of the action plan recognises the significance of a partnership approach, particularly with the County Council as the Transport Authority, and other key stakeholders, notably District Councils, transport providers, and public health bodies.

Oxford City Council


6 Local Transport Plans and Strategies

6.1 Oxfordshire Local Transport Plans (LTP)

Transport Plans for Oxford are addressed within the Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan produced by Oxfordshire County Council (OCC).

OCC has prepared three LTPs to date. The first LTP (LTP1) covered the period 2001 to 2006, the second, LTP2, covered the period 2006 to 2011. The 2006 Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) was integrated with LTP2, and included air quality as a shared priority. The third LTP (LTP3), which was amended in 2012, covered the period 2011 to 2030. Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) is now in the process of preparing its 4th Local Transport Plan (LTP4) to take account of changes in housing and economic growth forecasts, new or emerging spatial planning and to place an increased focus on reducing demand for travel. While needing to comply with national, regional and local policies, plans and programmes, the LTP4 will also influence, and be influenced by other statutory and non-statutory plans, strategies, policies and on-going studies. Of particular relevance are the following regional and local plans/ strategies,

Oxfordshire 2030: A partnership plan for improving quality of life in Oxfordshire;

A Thriving Oxfordshire – Draft Corporate Plan 2014/15 – 2017/18 (OCC 2014a)

Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan (2014b) (Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership);

Green Infrastructure Framework for Oxfordshire – emerging (OCC);

Economic Development Strategy Oxfordshire 2006-2016 (OCC); and

Oxfordshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy – emerging. Building on the earlier LTP3, the draft Oxfordshire LTP4 will set the policy and strategy for Oxfordshire’s transport requirements, and OCC’s approach to addressing the challenges of the transport system in Oxfordshire, in the period from 2015 – 2030. The LTP4 considers the demand and need for transport provision and management in Oxfordshire and the roles of individual transport modes and potential interventions.

Oxford City Council


The Oxfordshire Local Investment Plan, prepared by a partnership of the county and district councils, identifies a number of strategic transport schemes which it considered necessary to support development in the county in the short term including:

Access to Oxford Chiltern Railways Evergreen 3 Project East-West Rail (western section) Banbury priority north-south vehicular corridor Bicester park and ride M40 Junction 9 improvements South west Bicester perimeter road Transport improvements in and around Bicester Didcot Northern Perimeter Road Phase 3 Cow Lane Underpass, Didcot Didcot Parkway station forecourt Didcot Parkway station (Foxhall car park and pedestrian improvements) Accessing Science Vale UK transport package Thornhill park and ride, Oxford Grove & Wantage railway station Cogges Link Road and Witney town centre enhancement, Witney Cotswold line railway re-doubling A40 Downs Road junction, Witney

Progress made to date on delivering these schemes

Access to Oxford - Now being pursued as separate schemes for Oxford Northern Gateway and A34 Route Management strategy

Evergreen 3- Due for delivery by 2016 E-W Rail - Due for delivery 2017 Bicester P&R - Under development for delivery in 2014 Bicester SW Perimeter road - Completed 2012 Bicester transport improvements - Bicester Movement strategy under

development for approval 2014 Didcot station improvements - Under construction 2013 Accessing Science Vale UK - Now being pursued as seperate schemes for

Harwell Link Road, Hagbourne Hill and Featherbed Lane Cogges Link Road, Witney - Scheme rejected at public enquiry, new town

transport strategy under development Thornhill P&R expansion - Completed 2013 Cotswold line re-doubling - Completed 2012 A40 Downs Road, Witney - To be delivered as part of North Curbridge

development Delivery of new transport schemes is now funded through the Oxfordshire Local Transport Board for local major schemes and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership for schemes included within the emerging Local Growth Deal.

Oxford City Council


The LTP4 Scoping Report has been released for consultation, including draft objectives, developing national goals into local objectives.

These objectives will be prioritised within each of the different settlement types in

Oxfordshire, through the development of the Oxford Area Strategy. The current

objectives with high priority for Oxford are listed below:

Oxford

Reduce congestion

Develop and increase the use of high quality, welcoming public transport

Develop and increase cycling and walking for local journeys, recreation and

health Further consultation will be taking place with the County Council during 2014 on the development of the Oxford Area strategy within LTP4, with reference to the AQAP.

Oxford City Council


7 Climate Change Strategies

Oxford City Council has been directly tackling CO2 emission reductions from its buildings and operations since 2008 when it launched its first Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan (“Getting Our House in Order”). The Action Plan mapped out a route to implementing a range of measures to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions of 25% by 2011 (on a 2005 baseline) and 3% year on year thereafter. This Plan was refreshed and updated in August 2012 with a stretched target of a 5% year on year reduction in CO2 emissions and expanded scope (including communal supplies of electricity and gas in council housing stock) bringing in more emissions sources that are under the Council’s control. The Council is also a full participant in Phase 1 of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) reporting on annual CO2 emissions associated with a strictly defined set of its emission sources. The areas that contribute to the bulk of our emissions are:

Heating and electricity consumption in our operational sites (e.g. office buildings, depots, leisure centres, car parks, sports pavilions, public conveniences and other miscellaneous sites)

Fuels consumed in our fleet vehicles (e.g. refuse trucks, vans and pool cars), non-road going vehicles and plant (e.g. lawnmowers, chippers, and portable heaters)

Travel for work purposes (e.g. fuel consumed in staff-owned vehicles and from the use of public transport)

Operational waste deposited in landfill sites

Water consumption The latest report to DECC from July 2013 provides greenhouse gas emissions data (CO2e) for the reporting period 2012/13 and also includes updated emission data from last year’s report (covering years 2009/10 to 2011/12) following the issue of the latest GHG emission guidance and conversion factors guidance by Defra (last updated June 2013). Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from Local Authority own estate and operations covering financial year 2012-13

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/Library/Documents/Environmental%20Development/GHG%20Repo

rt%20Oxford%20City%20Council%202012-13.pdf

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/Library/Documents/Environmental%20Development/GHG%20Report%20Oxford%20City%20Council%202012-13.pdf

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/Library/Documents/Environmental%20Development/GHG%20Report%20Oxford%20City%20Council%202012-13.pdf

Oxford City Council


8 Implementation of Action Plans

Table 8.1 Action Plan Progress (for measures identified from 2006 AQAP within LTP2/3 programmes)

No. Measure Focus Lead

authority Planning

phase

Implemen-tation phase

Indicator

Target annual

emission reduction

in the AQMA

Progress to date

Progress in last 12 months

Estimated completion

date

Comments relating to emission

reductions

0 Manage bus emissions

Reduce unit emissions in the

AQMA using Bus Quality Partnership Agreements

(BQPA)

County Council

2009-10 2011-14

Elimination of Euro I

and II buses by

2014

2%

Failure to reach a BQPA

meant the authority

applied for a Traffic

Regulation Control

(TRC)

The TRC was

adopted with the

condition of having no Euro I

and Euro II buses

passing through the

AQMA from 2011 onwards

2011

Elimination of remaining few Euro I and II buses still

estimated to deliver a 2% reduction in

annual emissions.

1 Manage bus emissions

Reduce unit emissions in the

AQMA using Low Emission

Zone

City Council

and County Council

2006-9 2010-14 Euro V

buses by 2014

68% from 2006

baseline

Declaration of LEZ 2009

Options to consider a

Traffic Regulation

Condition

(TRC)

Declaration of LEZ 2009

2014

Bus Qualifying Agreement for implementation

in 2010 will result in the

early introduction of

25% fewer buses in High Street and 46 new Euro V EEV buses

Oxford City Council


2 Bus Qualifying Agreement

Shared services on designated

bus routes

County Council

2010-11

2011

Qualifying Agreeme

nt in place

Prepare outline

agreement

Main bus operators buy new electric hybrid buses

July 2011

Formal agreement

that establishes operation of

shared services, and reduced bus

numbers

3 Low Emission Zone

Implementation County & City

Council

2010-11

2011-3

Bus based LEZ in place

Implemented

In operation

from January

2014

2014

Emissions reductions subject to

further assessment

4 New Action Plan

Air Quality and Climate Change

in relation to Sustainable Transport

City Council

2011-13

2014-for integratio

n into LTP4

Revised AQ

Target and C-

reduction target for Transport

50% NOx

and PM reduction

2005-2020

Adopted 2013

Public Consultati

on summer

2013

City executive adopted

Dec 2013

End of 2013

Oxford City Council


9 Conclusions and Proposed Actions

9.1 Conclusions from New Monitoring Data

The most recent monitoring continues to highlight exceedences of the annual mean for nitrogen dioxide at some locations across the city, plus exceedences of the hourly mean objective at locations in central Oxford. Overall, average levels across the city are showing significant reductions, such that the extent of exceedences is reducing.

After two years showing small increases in annual mean nitrogen dioxide levels, the average for 2013 in St Aldate’s has reduced below 2010 levels. Levels recorded in Oxford High Street have fallen to levels recorded in 2005, and average diffusion tube results in central Oxford are lower than at any time since 2000.

The monitoring locations have been rotated from the previous year and are all within the existing Air Quality Management Area. Locations such as Cowley Centre, Hollow Way and Green Road Roundabout have now reduced to levels below the annual mean objective level of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre.

Continued exceedences of the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide as follows:-

Central Oxford

Specific Roads or Junctions o St Clement’s, High Street, St Aldate’s, Abingdon Road.

Areas where the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide is no longer exceeded:-

Summertown;

Cutteslowe Roundabout;

Cowley Centre;

Hollow Way

Trends in diffusion tube monitoring data over last 10years (using 3year averages)

Roadside results in central Oxford AQMA show a 15% reduction.

Roadside results on streets within the bus priority route show a 19% reduction.

Central Oxford site St Aldate’s, within AQMA and Bus Priority shows a 5% reduction.

St Ebbe’s Urban background site, close to central area shows a 20% reduction.

Recent Trends in Continuous Monitoring Data over last 3 years (using 3 year averages) Oxford Centre, St Aldate’s has seen a 12% increase in annual mean nitrogen dioxide levels since 2010, whereas Oxford High Street monitoring site has seen a 5% decrease over the same period. These short term trends over three years have to be considered against the longer term trends over a ten year period that show reductions. The difference between these two sites is attributable to the relocation of additional bus stops into St Aldate’s during this period.

Oxford City Council


9.2 Conclusions relating to New Local Developments

There are no new current local developments that will require more detailed consideration in the next Updating and Screening Assessment. There are three significant future developments which will be or have been subject to transport and air quality assessments through the planning application process:

A significant local housing development is planned for the Barton Area.

Revised proposals for a new city centre Shopping Centre, to replace the existing Westgate Centre.

Northern Gateway employment led development with supporting infrastructure on a 100 acre business park, requiring a new link road connecting the A40 and the A44.

The impact of these developments has been or will be considered through the planning process and will require consideration as they are implemented, Barton from late 2015, and Westgate from 2017.

9.3 Proposed Actions

The 2013 monitoring data has not identified the need to proceed to a Detailed Assessment. The whole of Oxford City remains an Air Quality Management Area. There are no proposals to change the boundary of the existing AQMA. The monitoring programme continues to be revised since the last progress report, in order to provide a balance between locations that are monitored year on year, as well as sites that are monitored on rotation. The aim in future will continue to provide a balance between a number of fixed sites and a group of sites that are rotated. The Oxford LEZ came into force in January 2014. The LEZ has promoted the introduction of cleaner greener buses, by the introduction of a Euro V standard for new buses operating in central Oxford. All regular service buses in central Oxford (over a minimum frequency) now meet the Euro 5 standard. Our next course of action will be to submit an Updating and Screening Assessment in 2015.

Oxford City Council


10 References

Oxford City Council Air Quality Action Plan 2006 Oxford City Council Air Quality Action Plan 2013 Oxford City Council Detailed Assessment 2008 Oxford City Council Progress Report 2010, 2011 Oxford City Council Updating and Screening Assessment 2009, 2012 DEFRA: The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland July 2007 DEFRA: Local Air Quality Management Policy Guidance PG(09). 2009 DEFRA: Local Air Quality Management Technical Guidance TG(09). 2009 Oxfordshire County Council: Local Transport Plan 2011 Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 Oxford Core Strategy 2026 Oxford City Council: Climate Change Action Plan Oxford City Council: Carbon Management Plan Oxford Strategic Partnership: Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-12 Oxford City Council Carbon Management Programme Strategy & Implementation Plan 2008 Oxford City Council: Sustainability Strategy Oxford City Council: Low Emission Strategy 2013

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/Direct/80399OxfordsSustainableCommunityStrategy200812.pdf

Oxford City Council


Appendices

Appendix 1 QA/QC and Data validation

Continuous monitoring sites

1. All routine calibration and maintenance is carried and recorded in accordance

with manufacturers’ and Automated Urban Monitoring Network site operators’

manuals.

2. Instrument drift is routinely checked by: -

a daily internal instrument calibration which is carried out automatically

using an electronic calibration check,

every 2 weeks a manual external instrument calibration is carried out

using gas cylinders that can be traced back to reference standards for

each pollutant,

every 6 months an audit of instrument response is carried out by an

external organisation using independent gas calibration standards.

3. The above checks enable data to be examined subsequently for instrument

drift, which is expected, or for faulty data which is usually not expected. Instrument

drift is routinely adjusted by means of the 2 weekly external gas calibrations. Scaled

data is calculated using the gas calibrations for each analyser. Instrument response

is also recorded on a chart recorder along with response to calibration gases. These

chart records are also used to check the normal response as part of the data

validation process.

4. Data from the continuous monitoring sites is collected and independently

validated by the National Environmental Technology Centre, AEA Technology

Environment.

5. Particulate Monitoring data is either FDMS (requires no correction), or has been

subject to a gravimetric correction as detailed within the report.

Oxford City Council


Diffusion Tube Monitoring

Diffusion tubes are supplied and analysed by an accredited laboratory (South

Yorkshire Air Quality samplers), using the 50% TEA in Acetone method.

The laboratory is subject to quality assurance testing as part of their accreditation.

This involves an independent comparison to other laboratories. These results of

inter-comparisons are available for scrutiny.

A bias correction factor can be applied to diffusion tube results to account for

laboratory bias and to correct to continuous monitoring results. Oxford City Council

carries out a co-location study annually, and has used the results to calculate a

locally derived bias adjustment factor for each separate year studied. These results

are submitted for inclusion in the National Diffusion Tube Bias Adjustment Factor

Spreadsheet.

Bias Correction Factor applied (to all results) 2008:1.04; 2009:0.96; 2010:1.08;

2011:1.18; 2012:1.07; 2013: 0.96

PM Monitoring Adjustment

PM10 measurements up to January 2009 were made with R&P TEOM and results for this period have been corrected by a factor of 1.3 for Indicative Gravimetric Equivalent PM10 Measurements from January 2009 were made with R&P FDMS TEOM with no correction