Progress in delivering clean air for Birmingham - January 2026
Clean Air Zone progress
This page sets out progress on Action 1 of the Clean Air Strategy, implementing the Clean Air Zone. It includes early monitoring results and where nitrogen dioxide levels remain above the legal limit.
Action 1: Implement a Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
The Clean Air Zone became operational on 1 June 2021. It aims to reduce pollution from traffic in the city centre and support cleaner, healthier air for residents, workers and visitors.
Monitoring shows that air quality in the zone continues to improve:
- In 2024 the average level of nitrogen dioxide in the zone was 29% lower than in 2019, before the pandemic
- Compared with 2016, the year used for the original modelling, levels have reduced by 34%
- The percentage of non‑compliant vehicles entering the zone has reduced from 15.2% in June 2021 to 3.8% in August 2025
Real‑time air quality data is publicly available, and detailed findings are included in the council’s Annual Air Quality Status Report. For more information and to view the report, visit the council's air quality monitoring and modelling webpage.
A detailed air quality and traffic modelling project is underway to support ongoing evaluation of the Clean Air Zone.
Current monitoring has identified 5 areas where nitrogen dioxide levels remain above the legal limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. These are:
- A38 and St Chads
- Moor Street
- Islington Row Middleway
- Lawley Middleway
- Watery Lane Middleway
Page last updated: 30 January 2026