New Air Quality Action Plan for Dundee

Councillors are set to discuss actions to improve air quality in the city.

The Climate, Net Zero and Environment Committee will be asked to the note feedback received during the statutory consultation carried out last year and remit the submission final version of the Air Quality Action Plan 2025-29 to Scottish Ministers.

The 2025 Air Quality Update shows that pollution levels recorded across the city in 2024 were within safe legal limits. Monitoring found that that concentrations of harmful pollutants such as Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂₎ and fine particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM _2.5) were all below the limits set by law.

The action plan replaces the previous one which ran from 2011, which delivered several ongoing initiatives that have improved air quality, including introduction of School Streets to exclude vehicles entering the streets around schools and elective vehicle uptake for the council’s own fleet.

The new Air Quality Action Plan for 2025–2029 sets out six priorities to continue improving air quality in Dundee:

• Maintain air pollution concentrations below current air quality objectives and, where practical, reduce emissions further.
• Continue the implementation of the Low Emission Zone across the city.
• Work with the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to promote active travel and public transport, and to reduce reliance on private vehicles.
• Ensure that plans developed and implemented for placemaking and climate change are closely coordinated and aligned with those for air quality, to maximise co-benefits.
• Develop a Communications Strategy encourage more public awareness and behaviour change.
• Provide an annual report to the Scottish Government on the implementation of measures set out in this plan, monitored concentrations within the Dundee Air

Quality Management Area (AQMA), and the effects of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Feedback from statutory consultees during the Air Quality Action Plan consultation was generally supportive of the measures outlined in the plan.

Climate, Net Zero and Environment Committee Convener Heather Anderson said: "We know that cleaner air is especially important for children, older people, and anyone with existing health conditions.

"This plan sets out a number of key priorities and actions that will help improve air quality across the city. From larger-scale projects such as creating active travel corridors to upgrading traffic control systems that improve junction efficiency and reduce congestion, all of these measures will contribute to cleaner air for everyone.

"But we all need to work together. There are small changes we can each make that can have a big impact, using public transport more often, choosing active travel options where possible, and reducing the amount of solid fuel burning that takes place.

"All of this will help us live healthier, more environmentally friendly lives and create a better future for Dundee."

The report will be put to councillors at the city’s Climate, Net Zero and Environment Committee on Monday 17th November 2025.