Two new schools in Bedford built in areas with dangerous air pollution

Researchers found nearly nine in 10 planned new school sites across England have air pollution levels exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) targets.

Experts at Evelina London children's hospital and King's College London, who conducted the study, called for environmental issues to be considered as part of all government policy decisions.

The figures show 126 out of 147 schools across the country due to be built between 2017 and 2025 exceeded the recommended levels for three different air pollutants, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, while every site exceeded at least one.

This included two new schools in Bedford – Great Ouse Primary Academy and Wixams Tree Primary School – and PM2.5 particles, which can cause asthma and respiratory inflammation, were more than double the target.

Children were also exposed to high levels of PM10 and NO2, which can reduce lung development.

Jenny Bates, air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said exposure to polluted air can be particularly harmful to children as their organs are still developing, and "living with dirty air can even result in reduced lung function".

She added: "Schools and health facilities shouldn't be located in areas that exceed World Health Organization guidelines.

"The new Labour government must update UK air quality targets in line with WHO standards.

"On top of this, it should also do more to clean up road transport and encourage more people to leave their cars at home with better public transport, and safer streets for walking and cycling."

The analysis found pollutant levels were especially high at sites in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds. In contrast, sites in other major cities such as Liverpool, Bristol, and Newcastle had relatively lower levels of pollution.

The lowest pollutant levels were observed at sites in Devon and Cornwall.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, called the findings "concerning", and said air quality should be considered when locating new schools.

He added: "Many existing school buildings are also in a bad condition, and suffer from poor ventilation, as a result of a lack of investment in the school estate over many years."

He called on the new government to ensure all necessary repair work is done to make schools "safe, sustainable and comfortable".

Dr Meredith J P Robertson, consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine at Evelina London Children's Hospital, said people from deprived backgrounds and non-white populations are disproportionately affected by air pollution.

She said: "Local and central government have a responsibility to provide more funding for public health and collaboration across different public sector organisations to create effective holistic interventions.

"Environmental issues need to be given due consideration by all government departments and organisations and be included in all policy decision making processes."

A Bedford Borough Council spokesman said: “Bedford Borough Council is committed to managing local air quality and undertake air quality monitoring in line with requirements set out by Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and supporting regulations with monitoring results assessed against the Air Quality Standards and Objectives set out by the Secretary of State.

“Bedford borough has declared one Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), in 2009, in relation to local levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ) primarily associated to vehicle emissions on local transport routes. NO2 levels within the borough have seen a steady reduction over a number of years due to a combination of actions taken including those implemented by the authority and other factors such as less polluting cars and changes to technology etc data from 2023 indicates that just one location within the AQMA as having exceeded the government target for NO2. Neither of the school locations identified are within the AQMA and have not been identified as areas likely to exceed government targets for NO2 for England.

“Historically the borough has not been identified as exceeding the annual average requirement, under Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010), of 40 µg/m3 for PM10 for a number of years and monitoring in more built-up areas identifies compliance with this requirement. Similarly, these monitoring locations in more built-up areas of the borough indicate compliance with the government target of 20 µg/m3 for PM2.5.

“Therefore, evidence currently indicates that the locations of these schools do not exceed the current target/objective levels for NO2,PM10 or PM2.5 set for England.

“Recently the government established updated targets for fine particulate matter in England including an to achieve an annual average of 10 µg/m3 for PM2.5, the authority are currently working to support achievement of this target, current indicative monitoring within borough shows a number of locations already below this level.

“In order to continue to manage and improve local air quality in and around schools within and adjoining the AQMA the authority currently engages with settings to deliver project work, funded by Defra, aimed at educating and raising awareness of air quality with parents and pupils and promoting matters such as alternative travel choices, and educating around the impact of engine idling etc. when attending such settings. Funding was awarded to support a behavioural change project aimed at educating residents and raising awareness of the impacts of the domestic burning of solid fuels and impacts on PM2.5 with this work commencing in July 2024.”

A Government spokesperson said: "We are determined to improve air quality and protect children from the harms of pollution.

"That is why we will deliver a comprehensive and ambitious Clean Air Strategy including a series of interventions to clean up our air so that everyone has safe air to breathe."