Air Quality Management

Revocation of Air Quality Management Areas in Crediton and Cullompton

What we are proposing to do

We intend to revoke the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) orders for Crediton and Cullompton. We are asking for your feedback on factors we should consider before we revoke the AQMAs.

This proposal follows many years of improved air quality. Monitoring shows that air pollution has remained well below the national air quality limits for at least seven consecutive years.

Please note that revoking the AQMAs does not mean the Council will stop monitoring air quality. We will continue to monitor air quality across the district and work with partners to protect and improve it.

Learn more about Area Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)

Reasons for an Air Quality Management Area

Under the Environment Act 1995 Part IV (section 83), a Local Authority is required to review and assess the air quality within its area against national air quality objectives. Where the pollutant levels are above or are likely to be above the national targets, authorities declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

There are currently three AQMAs in the Mid Devon area.

• Crediton – AQMA declared in 2004 where town centre areas exceeded the air quality objective for annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM₁₀).
• Cullompton – AQMA declared in 2006 where town centre areas exceeded the air quality objective for annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

While these pollutants can arise from a range of sources, they are principally associated with road traffic emissions and vehicle movements along the A377 (Crediton) and A373/B3181 (Cullompton).

Reasons for revoking the AQMAs

Air quality has improved significantly since the AQMAs were declared.

Annual air quality data shows that the relevant areas of Crediton and Cullompton have achieved the objectives since at least 2018 which is seven consecutive complete years of monitoring.

Since 2018, there have been no recorded concentrations within 10% of the relevant air quality objective level with a consistent overall downward trend in the measured levels. For NO₂, current levels are approximately 50% lower than when the AQMAs were declared and for PM₁₀, levels have dropped significantly further. More information is provided in the table below.

Further information on monitoring locations and results alongside the location of the AQMAs are available in the Air Quality Annual Screening Report 2025 Local air quality management - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK

Live air quality monitoring can be viewed on this website Mid Devon District Council - Air Quality monitoring service

The latest ASR was submitted to DEFRA on 30^th June 2026 and will be published once DEFRA have confirmed they are satisfied with the report.

Statutory guidance issued under the Environment Act 1995 (Local Air Quality Management Technical Guidance TG22 issued by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)) states that revocation should be considered after three consecutive years of compliance with the relevant AQO, based on monitoring data. Mid Devon has now demonstrated compliance for at least seven consecutive years.

These improvements have been achieved through a combination of:

• cleaner, lower-emission vehicles;

• increased uptake of electric vehicles;

• traffic management and highway improvements;

• planning policies that require new developments to consider air quality; and

• ongoing air quality monitoring and investment.

Defra has supported the Council’s approach and advised that the AQMAs should now be revoked in line with national guidance.

Impact of revoking the AQMAs

Following the revocation of the AQMAs, we will continue to monitor air quality in the areas, which presently includes the monitoring equipment and continuous monitoring stations currently located in each town.

We will continue to apply any appropriate regulatory controls as required, including the consideration of air quality as a material consideration under planning development proposals.

The revocation of the AQMAs does mean that the Council no longer has to publish and work towards a formal air quality action plan for each AQMA.

Have your say

We would like to hear your views on the improving air quality in Mid Devon and our plans to revoke the AQMAs, including whether there are any additional factors you think we should consider.

Please have you say via our short survey below. The consultation will run for 4 weeks and is open until 25 August 2026.

If you prefer to write please contact us at: Public Health, Mid Devon District Council, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, EX16 6PP