How we monitor air quality

We report air quality results to the government.

We are required to regularly review and assess air quality in Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and the surrounding villages.

We already have a number of monitoring sites set up in and around the district that measure levels of pollution.

We report the results to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

KentAir data

KentAir monitor levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter - things like dust and soot. 

View KentAir data

New air pollution sensors

DEFRA are funding a project to install a small network of air pollution sensors in Canterbury’s Air Quality Management Area, which covers the main ring road where all traffic passes around and through Canterbury.

The sensors will operate 24 hours a day.

The network will operate for a period of five years starting in September 2023. We will report the data at Kent Air to identify any trends and monitor outcomes of any interventions that we put in place in the city centre, as well as focus on reducing the emissions the city centre produces.

Find out more about air quality

Air quality action plan

We are required by DEFRA to produce an air quality action plan every five years, for the two air quality management areas within our district.

You can find details of the report and the full monitoring data: