Air quality
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council continues to promote good air quality. We monitor the current levels of air quality against National Objectives at a number of locations across the Borough.
Our two automatic monitoring stations are at:
- Eaglescliffe School, monitoring for NO2, PM2.5, PM10 and Benzene
- Stockton A1305, Nelson Terrace, monitoring for NO2 and PM2.5
During the 2024 monitoring period, we did not report any pollutants over the annual mean objective at any monitoring location across the Borough.
Stockton A1305 automatic monitoring site recorded an annual mean level for Nitrogen Dioxide of 14.4 µg/m3, Eaglescliffe recorded 9.5 µg/m3 and Billingham recorded 11.8 µg/m3. These levels have reduced since 2023, and do not exceed the annual objective of 40 µg/m3.
Data from the diffusion tubes show a reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide at 10 out of 14 sites. The highest annual reading was recorded as 33.4µg/m3 which does not exceed the annual objective of 40µg/m3.
During 2024, monitoring for PM2.5 at Eaglescliffe recorded the lowest levels since monitoring began at this location. The annual mean recorded at Eaglescliffe was 6.9µg/m3 compared to 7.8 µg/m3 in 2023. At Stockton A1305 the annual mean recorded was 8.3 µg/m3, which was an increase compared to 7.1 µg/m3 in 2023.
The Eaglescliffe site recorded an annual mean of 13.3µg/m3 for PM10, which has decreased from 2023, where the recorded levels were 14µg/m3. The annual objective for this pollutant is 40 µg/m3.
This data and analysis has been fully ratified and confirmed by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
You can view Stockton-on-Tees monitoring locations and results on the UK Air website.
A copy of the latest 2025 Air Quality Annual Status Report can be requested from the Environmental Health team by emailing Environmental.Health@stockton.gov.uk or calling 01642 526575.
Air pollution forecast and hourly data
There are currently no high pollution episodes.
View the UK Air Pollution Forecast for up to five days ahead.
Location of electric vehicle charging points
You can see the map of available charging points across the North East on the Zapmap website.
Air Quality Strategy 2025 to 2030
Our Air Quality Strategy identifies a series of robust measures and commitments which the Council will implement to ensure we maintain and improve our existing good levels of air quality throughout the Borough. As an Authority we are determined to continually improve the levels of air quality to protect public health and to have a clean environment for everyone to live and work within.
Our priorities for this strategy are to focus on:
- monitoring, reporting and increasing awareness of air quality
- strategic measures
- reducing emissions from vehicles
- reducing emissions from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources
- new developments, construction and planning
You can request a copy of our Air Quality Strategy by emailing Environmental.Health@Stockton.gov.uk
Air Quality Strategy consultation
In April 2025 we asked for your views on our first Air Quality Strategy, which will set out how we aim to reduce air pollution throughout the Borough. Common themes which were identified from the consultation responses are outlined below with our response to them.
Unable to find strategy document
The draft Air Quality Strategy document could be viewed on the consultation webpage under the 'supporting documents' tab throughout the consultation period. This could also be accessed from the Air pollution webpage. Physical copies of the draft Air Quality Strategy document were available in all Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council libraries.
Vehicle emissions
Measures are listed within the draft Air Quality Strategy to reduce emissions from vehicles.
Emissions from idling vehicles
The draft Air Quality Strategy addresses measures which allow us to raise awareness and create behavioural changes in relation to idling vehicles.
Wood burning
Wood burning was one of the greatest concerns for residents who responded to the consultation. Measures to address wood burning are listed within the draft strategy.
Industrial emissions
Industrial emissions are currently regulated by the Local Authority and Environment Agency, but the draft Air Quality Strategy details ways in which we can further reduce emissions to air.
CO2
The primary aim of improving air quality is to improve the air which we breathe which will have health benefits. There are additional environmental benefits such as reduced emissions which benefits climate change. Links to the Air Quality Strategy and the Council's existing Environmental Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Strategy are noted in section eight of the draft Air Quality Strategy. Measures listed in the table of section 12 will have benefits for air quality and carbon reduction.
Annual status report as reporting tool
Each year Environmental Health submit an annual status report (ASR) to DEFRA fulfilling our requirements of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, Local Air Quality Management, as amended by The Environment Act 2021. The ASR will be used as a platform to report progress in relation to the measures within the Air Quality Strategy.
Clean Air Day
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is a supporter of Clean Air Day, the UK's largest campaign on air pollution.
Visit Global Action Plan's Clean Air Hub for everything you need to know about air pollution:
- what air pollution is and how it affects your health
- what you can do to protect yourself and others
- what you can do to reduce your contribution to air pollution
You can also check forecasts for Air Quality levels in your area at DEFRA Clean Air.
