New air quality improvement plan for Perth

Since the first Perth AQAP was published in 2009, the city has seen a consistent downward trend in harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and air particulates. This progress has come from a combination of cleaner vehicles, strategic infrastructure projects and targeted local measures, including:

• Completion of the Destiny Bridge and New Kingsway in March 2025 is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion and pollution in city centre hotspots like Atholl Street and Bridgend.
• Integration of air quality into planning and transport strategies, ensuring all new developments and mobility initiatives support cleaner air.
• Modernisation of public transport, including electric buses and real-time passenger information systems.
• Expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure, with 80 EV charging points now available across the region.
• Community engagement and education, including Clean Air Day events and school travel initiatives.

The new AQAP for 2025-30 outlines a comprehensive range of measures across seven strategic areas, designed to improve air quality as Perth undergoes further development. These include:

• Strategic Planning: Aligning air quality goals with regional transport and mobility strategies.
• Traffic Management: Reducing congestion through smarter traffic systems and anti-idling enforcement.
• Emission Reduction: Supporting cleaner Council fleets, expanding EV infrastructure, and addressing domestic burning.
• Demand Reduction: Promoting car clubs, park-and-ride schemes, and low-car developments.
• Community Engagement: Enhancing public awareness and encouraging active travel.
• Monitoring and Modelling: Expanding the air quality monitoring network and using scenario modelling to guide future decisions.

The new AQAP was developed in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including NHS Tayside, TACTRAN, and across Council services. It will be reviewed annually, with progress reported to the Scottish Government and SEPA.

Members of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee will be asked to approve the plan at a meeting on Wednesday 20 August.

Committee Convener, Councillor Richard Watters, said: "Poor air quality has long been associated with short and long-term effects on human health, leading to air pollution being classified by scientists as the single largest environmental health risk in the UK contributing to premature death and disease. Air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society - children and older people - and those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions.

"Pollution is also closely linked with climate change. Many of the pollutants in local air quality management are greenhouse gases. Continued improvements to air quality will therefore also help us to mitigate climate change.

"This updated plan reflects our commitment to continue to tackle pollution at its source, protecting our most vulnerable residents, and ensuring Perth continues to thrive as a healthy, sustainable city.

"Perth City has undergone many changes since the publication of the original Action Plan in 2009 and is expected to go through further change during the operational period of this updated plan. The newly completed Destiny Bridge and New Kingsway are expected to have a notable impact on air quality in the city centre, and large developments at Bertha Park, Scone and Perth West will further change both road traffic and by extension air quality within Perth, changes which will need to be closely monitored to assess their full impact.

"We have to ensure that the Perth AQAP is up-to-date to address current and future challenges and maintain the downward trend in pollutants for the health benefit of all our citizens."