Plan to improve air quality across Lewes District approved
Lewes District Council’s Air Quality Action Plan for the next five years has been approved by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra. It’s hoped this will mark a significant step forward in efforts to improve air quality across the district.
The plan for 2026-2030 sets out a co-ordinated programme of action to reduce harmful air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide, in key locations including Lewes town centre and Newhaven, where Air Quality Management Areas are currently in place to monitor high levels of these pollutants.
The plan runs includes implementing targeted actions, monitoring progress and working collaboratively with local and regional partners to achieve national air quality objectives.
The Air Quality Action Plan outlines how a range of bodies across transport, public health and planning will work together to reduce emissions, limit exposure to pollution and create healthier environments for residents, businesses and visitors.
Priorities referenced in the plan include:
- Working to reduce general car travel and emissions from freight/delivery vehicles (especially HGVs)
- Being involved in decision-making for new developments at an early stage to addressed their contribution to increased traffic/air quality impacts
- Encouraging behavioural change to help manage the impact of air pollution on public health
- Work with developers and partner organisations to support considerations in Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans that can help improve local air quality via transportation
- Continue to monitor air quality to track evidence of air quality improvement.
The plan also puts strong emphasis on working with community groups (including a number of Lewes Climate Hub partner groups) to support actions in areas including cycle parking, supporting active travel, promoting sustainable travel to school, cargo bikes/last-mile delivery, and the Lewes integrated movement strategy that the Climate Hub helped to instigate (now part of the developing Lewes Masterplan).
You can read the full Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2030 here.