Air quality
In this section
Horsham District’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)
An Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) is a geographical area surrounding a pollution hot spot. Over 230 have been declared across the UK, varying in size from single properties to entire boroughs. Every AQMA has its own Action Plan.
There are two AQMAs in Horsham District:
- Storrington Air Quality Management Area, declared in 2010
- Cowfold Air Quality Management Area, declared in 2011
All AQMAs are required to have an Air Quality Action Plan that reviews all possible pollution reduction measures and assesses them in terms of pollution reduction, acceptability, cost effectiveness and feasibility. The AQAPs have been developed in partnership with West Sussex County Highways Department. They are reviewed every 12 months as part of the annual progress reporting schedule required by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Storrington AQMA
An Air Quality Management Area has been in effect in Storrington since December 2010 in areas of the village that are likely to exceed the annual air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide.
The AQMA in Storrington incorporates West Street, the High Street and part of School Hill and Manleys Hill.
Storrington Air Quality Management Area map
Storrington's Air Quality Action Plan
The measures recently taken forward for implementation to reduce traffic congestion and to aid air quality improvement in Storrington are:
- Weight restriction for lorries on B2139 Manleys Hill between the A283 Manleys Hill/High St mini-roundabout and Mill Lane car park entrance within the Storrington AQMA; and
- Restrictions for waiting, loading and unloading at any time on sections of North Street, The Square and West Street in Storrington.
- Storrington AQMA traffic scheme proposals review 2022 (PDF File, 1.6 MB)
- Storrington Air Quality Action Plan 2020 (PDF File, 521.4 KB)
- Storrington Traffic Management Options Appraisal 2013 (PDF File, 5.3 MB)
- Storrington Air Quality Action Plan 2012 (PDF File, 1.2 MB)
- Detailed Assessment Report of Storrington Air Quality 2010 (PDF File, 1.8 MB)
Does Storrington have a Low Emission Zone?
No. A low emission zone trial was carried out in 2014/15 and it was concluded that such a zone would not be possible. For more information, please read the Storrington Low Emission Zone Project Report.
Storrington Air Quality Steering Group
Storrington steering group has contributed to the development of the Action Plan and is the decision making body for the Action Plan measures to be taken forward. The most recent meeting of the group was held on the 23rd April 2024, notes of the last meeting are available here.
Cowfold AQMA
An Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) has been in effect in Cowfold since December 2011 in areas of the village that are likely to exceed the air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide.
The AQMA in Cowfold incorporates The Street, parts of Station Road and Bolney Road.
Cowfold Air Quality Management Area map
What is in Cowfold's Air Quality Action Plan?
Within Cowfold, improved signage is being considered on strategic routes to discourage longer distance lorry traffic from using the A272 through Cowfold.