Air quality in Chester-le-Street

Air quality monitoring and assessment locations

Non-continuous monitoring of air quality is carried out at a number of locations close to either busy junctions or on major routes and in areas where people could be exposed to pollution. To see the locations, please view our air quality monitoring map. This monitoring has provided an annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentration reading at the various locations where the non-continuous monitors are located in the Chester-le-Street area.

Chester-le-Street air quality monitoring on a map

See our Chester-le-Street air quality monitoring on a map,

Declaration of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)

2012

Because nitrogen dioxide levels had been identified as a problem to the west of Chester-le-Street town centre at Menceforth Cottages, a more detailed assessment of air quality has been carried out:

• Air Quality Management Order - Detailed Assessment Report - Menceforth Cottages Chester-le-Street (PDF, 1 MB)

2013

An AQMA was declared to the west of Chester-le-Street town centre that incorporates Menceforth Cottages and Glen Terrace on 17 May 2013 after consultation with the residents on both of these terraces and other interested parties. The order, boundary map and a list of properties falling within it is available:

• Chester-le-Street Air Quality Management Order (PDF, 35 KB):
• Chester-le-Street Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) Associated Roads and Residential Areas (PDF, 13 KB)
• Map of Chester-le-Street Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) Associated Roads and Residential Areas (PDF, 361 KB)

2014

Following the declaration of the AQMA, a further assessment of the air quality within the declared Air Quality Management Area has been undertaken to identify the source of the pollution and to determine the extent of the boundary of the Air Quality Management Area:

• Chester-le-Street Air Quality Management Further Assessment Report 2014 (PDF, 706 KB)

We no longer have to carry out further assessments, as the main sources of increased nitrogen dioxide concentrations are included in our Air Quality Action Plan.

2015

The AQMA was subsequently varied on 20 May 2015 and the boundary of the designated AQMA area reduced to solely include Menceforth Cottages, situated on Pelton Fell Road to the west of Chester-le-Street  town centre. The order, boundary map and a list of properties falling within it is available:

• Chester-le-Street Air Quality Management Variation Order (PDF, 493 KB)
• Map of revised Air Quality Management Area Chester-le-Street (PDF, 309 KB)
• Chester-le-Street Air Quality Management Area variation roads and residential properties (PDF, 264 KB)

Current assessment

The previous requirement for us to undertake detailed assessments following the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) has been replaced. We now have to make an annual review and assessment of air quality across the County, and this includes Chester-le-Street. The outcome of the review and assessment is reported annually to DEFRA, and the report is available at How we check air quality.

The Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP)

Following the declaration of an AQMA, we are required to produce an AQAP.

Since the annual mean results from the monitoring carried out at the properties at Menceforth Terrace demonstrated consistent compliance with the National Air Quality Objective, the AQMA has now been revoked.

Further information

Please Contact Pollution Control

• for paper copies, or alternative formats of any of the electronic reports on this page
• with any questions about air quality in the county