Air quality

We are required to regularly review the air quality in the Falkirk Council area by the Scottish Government. This is called Local Air Quality Management.

There are 10 automatic air quality monitoring sites across the area. The air monitoring data from 9 of the sites can be viewed on the Scottish Air Quality website and the Turnkey AirQ website.

We submit reports on local air quality management work to the Scottish Government.

The most recent air quality reports are:


2023 Progress Report
PDF file, 10.7 MB
2022 Falkirk Town Centre PM10 AQMA Revocation Report
PDF file, 741.1 KB
2022 Progress Report
PDF file, 6.1 MB
2021 Progress Report
PDF file, 11.6 MB
2021 Haggs AQMA Revocation Proposal Report
PDF file, 3.8 MB
Grangemouth Emissions Study 2020
PDF file, 5 MB
2020 Progress Report
PDF file, 6 MB
2020 Banknock AQMA Revocation Proposal Report
PDF file, 2.4 MB
2019 Progress Report
PDF file, 7.2 MB
2018 Progress Report
PDF file, 6.2 MB
2017 Progress Report
PDF file, 8.2 MB
2016 Progress Report
PDF file, 5.5 MB
2015 Updating and Screening Assessment
PDF file, 1.9 MB
2015 Falkirk and Haggs Air Quality Action Plan
PDF file, 2.7 MB
2014 Grangemouth Tail Gas Study
DOCX file, 998.1 KB
2014 Progress Report
PDF file, 4.1 MB
2013 Progress report
PDF file, 5.4 MB
2010 Detailed assessment of PM10 in Banknock
PDF file, 2.1 MB
2010 Grangemouth AQMA Further Assessment
PDF file, 2.1 MB
2007 Grangemouth Air Quality Action Plan
PDF file, 348.9 KB

Air Quality Management Areas

Under section 83(1) of the Environment Act 1995, Falkirk Council has a responsibility to comply with relevant regulations when managing local air quality. The Council completes its Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) duties by managing an extensive air quality monitoring network, assessing results and reporting on areas of existing or anticipated poor air quality - declared via Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA).

More information can be found at the following links:

Falkirk Council currently (as of March 2023) has 2 active AQMAs, these are:

  1. Falkirk Town Centre
    Declared 31 January 2013 for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – annual mean.

  2. Grangemouth
    Declared 01 November 2005 for sulphur dioxide (SO2) – 15 minute mean.

Falkirk Council currently (as of November 2023) has 3 revoked AQMAs, these are:

  1. Falkirk Town Centre

    Declared 25 January 2013 for particulate matter (PM10) – 24 hour and annual mean. Revoked on 03 March 2023.

  2. Haggs

    Declared 18 March 2010 for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – annual mean. Revoked on 05 October 2021.

  3. Banknock

    Declared 18 August 2011 for particulate matter (PM10) – 24 hour and annual mean. Revoked on 07 January 2021.

You can get more information about air quality by calling UK-Air or visiting any of the following websites:

Frequently asked questions

  1. Where does the Council monitor air quality?
  2. What air pollutants is the Council required to monitor?
  3. What pollutants does the Council monitor?

Where does the Council monitor air quality?

We use automatic air monitoring equipment at the following locations:

  • Bo'ness, Town Hall
  • Falkirk, Hope St
  • Falkirk, Main Street, Bainsford
  • Falkirk, West Bridge Street
  • Grangemouth, Inchyra Park - Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN)
  • Grangemouth, Moray - AURN
  • Grangemouth, Municipal Chambers
  • Grangemouth, Zetland Park
  • Haggs, Kilsyth Road

The data from the majority of the automatic monitoring sites is available on the Scottish Air Quality Network.

There are many more locations where non-automatic monitoring using diffusion tubes is carried out. The data is available in the latest air quality report.

What air pollutants is the Council required to monitor?

The Scottish Government requires councils to follow a 'Review and Assessment' process in their assessment of air quality. If this process suggests that monitoring may be needed then Falkirk Council may install a diffusion tube or automatic monitor.

What pollutants does the Council monitor?

Falkirk Council monitors nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, benzene, 1,3 butadiene and particulate matter (PM10+2.5). The review and assessment process has not identified the need to monitor carbon monoxide or lead.