Clean Air Zone air quality data

Sheffield's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was introduced on Monday 27 February 2023 to lower harmful levels of air pollution caused by road traffic.

When it comes to air pollution, there is no safe limit. With 1 in 20 deaths in the city being due to poor air quality, we must all act to protect the health of ourselves, our loved ones and the environment around us.

We are now able to take an early look at our annual average air quality data 2023 for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) reduction and our vehicle compliance data.

You can view our infographic showing Sheffield's nitrogen dioxide annual average for 2023. The full data will be available later in the summer. 

The latest data on vehicle compliance in Sheffield can be viewed in the December 2023 Clean Air Zone - Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee report.

Sheffield’s recent air quality data is available on Air quality in Sheffield.

Recent road traffic statistics data in Sheffield can be found on the Department of Transport's Road traffic statistic page.

What the data tells us about air quality in Sheffield

Air quality in Sheffield is improving.

100% of monitoring locations within the CAZ are showing a reduction in NO2.

Overall

Since the launch of the CAZ, there has been:

• 16% NO2 reduction – CAZ area
• 27% NO2 reduction – bus-gate area on Arundel Gate
• 21% NO2 reduction – wider Sheffield district

Vehicle compliance

Our vehicle monitoring surveys showed that between November 2022 and October 2023:

The overall volume of traffic remained consistent, but the number of non-compliant vehicles driving through and within the CAZ reduced by 64%.

• 37% of journeys were non-compliant in November 2022
• 13% of journeys were non-compliant October 2023

Across the Sheffield district, the proportion of non-compliant vehicles reduced by 18%.

• 39% of journeys were non-compliant in November 2022
• 32% of journeys were non-compliant in October 2023

Compliant vehicle journeys in the CAZ area:

• 64% of journeys were compliant in November 2022
• 91% of journeys were compliant in May 2024

Taxi fleet – compliance levels of local taxis licensed with Sheffield City Council:

• 64% of local taxis were compliant in November 2022
• 95% of local taxis were compliant in May 2024

Clean Air Zone financial support data

Our CAZ financial support data for vehicle upgrades between December 2022 and May 2024 is available:

• £6.3m funds awarded to support vehicle upgrades
• 1,595 grants paid to support vehicle upgrades
• a further 1,366 potential grants being processed