Technical Notes 2026, Issue 13 - Bishopbriggs Air Quality Action Plan Update
Report by:
Evonne Bauer, Executive Officer – Community Services
TN Number:
013-26
Subject:
Bishopbriggs Air Quality Action Plan Update
Responsible Officer:
Paul Halliday, Environmental Health Officer
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
This Technical Note is to make Elected Members aware of the 2025 Bishopbriggs Air Quality Action Plan Update which was published in October 2025.
In order to meet statutory obligations under the Environment Act 1995, where an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) has been declared, the local authority must produce a list of actions that will be taken to improve air quality to meet objective levels. This document is called the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) and this Plan must be updated at least every five years.
There have been two AQMAs declared in East Dunbartonshire, one in Bishopbriggs, and another in Bearsden which was revoked in 2022.
Background
In 2003, an air quality assessment revealed that in Bishopbriggs levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) were exceeding, or were likely to exceed, the statutory limits set by the legislation at the time. This was primarily due to emissions from road traffic on Kirkintilloch Road.
In light of this report, the Kirkintilloch Road AQMA was declared in 2005 along the A803 corridor between the junction of Kirkintilloch and Colston Roads to a point 30metres north of Cadder roundabout. An accompanying AQAP was subsequently published in 2009 laying out actions that would be taken to improve air quality in the area, which was updated in 2012.
Following introduction of the AQMA and action plan, air quality improved as intended. The last recorded exceedances of NO2 and PM10 limits were recorded in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
By 2016 consideration was being given to revoking the AQMA as all objective levels had been achieved for several years. It was decided, however, that the degree and nature of proposed infrastructure changes within and around the AQMA were such that it would be worthwhile delaying revocation until the works were completed and their impact on air quality could be assessed.
This decision was reached with agreement from both the Scottish Government and SEPA as the responsible regulatory bodies. Additionally, as all objective air quality levels were being met, it was agreed that further updating of the associated AQAP was unnecessary.
Current position
In 2023, SEPA advised that despite previous agreements, all local authorities with declared AQMAs would now have to provide updated action plans if it had been over five years since they were last reviewed. Accordingly, during 2025 the update was prepared and published. The action plan underwent SEA screening and consultation with both internal and statutory external consultees in line with relevant technical guidance.
As there have been no exceedences of the air quality standards in Bishopbriggs since 2010, this action plan contains no new actions over and maintains several ongoing long-term measures which were introduced by the previous iterations of the action plan. It was therefore prepared only to comply with the statutory duty to produce an action plan.
Next steps
As air quality in Bishopbriggs has now been significantly below objective limits for many years, current advice from both SEPA and the Scottish Government is that the revocation of the Kirkintilloch Road AQMA should be investigated. If revoked, there will be no remaining AQMAs or AQAPs in force.
To maintain focus on air quality improvement over coming years, an air quality strategy covering the whole of East Dunbartonshire will be researched by the Environmental Health Team, in line with current guidance, and when prepared, presented to Committee for the appropriate approvals.
