• London is first city in the world to require construction equipment to meet standards for both particulates (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Construction machinery emissions will be cut by approximately 40 per cent by 2020 helping London achieve compliance with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) legal limits In a world first, the oldest, most polluting bulldozers, diggers and other building site machinery are to be targeted under new plans by the Mayor Boris Johnson to improve the capital’s air quality.
New planning rules will require construction equipment to meet standards for both particulates (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), cutting emissions by approximately 40 per cent by 2020.
Equipment over 10 years old will need to replaced or retrofitted on all developments in central London and major developments in outer London (10 homes or more or 1,000 sq foot in other developments), with occasional exemptions for specialist construction machinery. They will also improve the control of dust from construction and demolition activity which can cause significant health impacts and is responsible for up to 15 per cent of air pollutant emissions in London.
Construction machinery is often replaced less frequently compared to similar emitting engines like cars or vans. Air pollutants coming from dust-generating activities on site, for example breaking-up of materials and the movement of soil, can cause significant nuisance to local residents unless properly managed.
The Mayor’s new mandatory Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) addresses this by reducing emissions of dust, particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) from construction sites and managing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from machinery.
While other cities and countries have introduced emission requirements for construction machinery before, this is the first time any city has introduced rules for both particulate and NOx emissions.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “By replacing the oldest and most polluting bulldozers and machinery on building sites we can greatly reduce harmful emissions and boost our air quality. We’ve all walked past construction sites and seen thick clouds of dust generated from equipment that simply hasn’t been updated or replaced in decades. This new guidance will reduce NOx and is part of a series of strong measures including the Ultra Low Emission Zone from 2020, that will greatly reduce London’s air pollution from all emission sources.”
Dr Claire Holman from the Institute of Air Quality Management said: “This is an important step in reducing emissions from demolition and construction sites that are both annoying and damaging to human health. These standards have rightly taken into account the impact on air quality and will be a key part of the planning process of new developments.”
City Hall has worked closely with the construction and retrofit industries over the new guidance, which will be implemented from September 2015 by local authorities through the planning system. Tighter standards will be put in place in central London, reflecting the greater scale and impact of construction in this area.
The standards will tighten again across the whole of London in 2020 to complement the Mayor’s proposals for an Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London, helping create a comprehensive approach to addressing all major emission sources.
Notes to editors
Today’s announcement is part of a wide range of measures the Mayor has implemented to improve air quality in the capital to ensure London meets legal limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as soon as possible and by 2020 including:
-The oldest and most polluting vehicles have been taken off the streets, standards for engines and buildings have been tightened and the world’s largest bus retrofit programme has created the cleanest large bus fleet in the world
- Since the Mayor was elected, half as many Londoners live in areas exceeding legal limits, emissions of harmful particulates are down by 15 per cent, and nitrogen oxide emissions are down by 20 per cent.
- Creating the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London from 2020
• Construction machinery emissions will decrease by approximately 40 per cent reduction by 2020 – this figure includes both natural turnover and the impact of the policy from 2015, set against a 2010 baseline. Exemptions on construction equipment over 10 years old will include special consideration for rare specialist machinery.
• In consideration of the potential economic impact on small businesses the 2015 standards will only apply to major developments in outer London (10 residential units or more or 1,000 sq foot of any other development uses) removing small operators from the scope of the proposals until 2020. It is expected that this additional compliance time will significantly reduce costs imposed on small operators
• The Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) replaces The Control of Dust and Emissions from Demolition and Construction Best Practice Guidance published jointly by London Council’s and the Mayor in 2006.
• In recognition of the scale of the UK’s air quality challenge, the Mayor is calling on the Government to:
o Encourage and promote the cleanest vehicles through fiscal incentives that incorporate both carbon and air pollutant emission standards
o Update the Clean Air Act to give councils the right powers to deal with pollution and address emissions from construction
o Support a local approach to air quality in London with extra cash for pollution hotspots
o Help London’s public transport go ultra-low emission by 2020 with funds for hybrid/electric buses and zero emission capable taxis where air quality is worst
o Tackle building emissions by considering air quality alongside CO2 in the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s priorities
o Put air quality at the heart of health by using Public Health England to tackle exposure to air pollution
• The Mayor is asking the European Commission to:
o Improve testing of the new Euro 6 engine emission standard and use it to address vehicle emissions
o Make it easier to get EU funding to tackle pollution and create an Urban Clean Air Fund for European cities