Air Quality Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations prescribe the relevant authorities for particular provisions of Part III of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. Part III of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 requires district councils to review the quality of air within their area. The reviews have to consider the air quality for the time being and the likely future air quality during “the relevant period” (a period to be prescribed by regulations). Such reviews have to be accompanied by an assessment of whether any prescribed air quality objectives are being or are likely to be achieved within the relevant period.

These Regulations prescribe the relevant period (regulation 2(2)) and set out the air quality objectives to be achieved by the end of that period (regulation 3 and the Schedule).

Where any of the prescribed objectives are not likely to be achieved within any part of a district council’s area within the relevant period, the district council concerned will have to designate that part of its area as an air quality management area. An action plan covering the designated area will then have to be prepared setting out how the district council and prescribed relevant authority intend to exercise their powers in relation to the designated area in pursuit of the achievement of the prescribed objectives. The Regulations prescribe the period within which a prescribed relevant authority will have to submit proposals to a district councils, which is preparing an action plan within the district councils area (regulation 2(1)).