I. Current monitoring provision
Does the authority operate its own air quality monitoring stations or sensors, independent of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s national networks?
No.
How many air quality monitoring stations or sensors are currently in operation across the authority’s area?
None operated by Devon County Council (DCC).
In the interests of providing advice and assistance, DCC can confirm that air quality monitoring stations and sensors may be operated by other organisations (in particular, district councils), but requests for information regarding these should be directed to the organisations responsible for their operation.
What type of monitoring equipment is used (manufacturer, model, and parameters measured, for example PM2.5, PM10, NO2, or O3)?
This information is not held by DCC.
Where is each monitoring unit located (addresses or geographic coordinates)?
This information is not held by DCC.
Who operates the monitoring system (an in-house team or an external provider)?
This information is not held by DCC.
What system is used to present and publish the monitoring data (web platform, mobile application, or public information display)?
This information is not held by DCC.
Please provide the URL if the data is published online.
Not applicable.
II. Ownership and contracts
Is the monitoring equipment owned by the authority? If so, please state:
the date of acquisition,
the cost of acquisition,
who services the equipment and under what agreement (provider name, type of contract, and contract term).
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
If the equipment is not owned by the authority, under what arrangement is it used (rental, lease, hire, loan, or other)?
Please state:
the start date of the current agreement,
the end date of the agreement,
the name of the provider.
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
III. Costs
What was the total cost of purchasing and commissioning the current monitoring system?
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
What is the annual cost of running the system, including servicing, calibration, data transmission, and hosting of the presentation platform?
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
What budget has been allocated to air quality monitoring for the 2026/27 financial year?
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
IV. Development plans
Are any modifications to, or expansion of, the current monitoring system planned?
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
If so, please state:
what changes are planned (for example additional sensors, a change of technology, or expansion of the data platform),
the intended timescale,
the estimated budget.
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
If the authority does not currently operate an air quality monitoring system, does it plan to implement one?
No.
If so, please state the intended timescale and the budget envisaged.
Not applicable.
V. External funding
Does the authority plan to apply for any grants or external funding related to air quality monitoring?
No.
Which funding programmes are being considered or have already been identified (for example Defra’s Air Quality Grant, or other national, devolved, or regional schemes)?
Not applicable.
Has the authority previously drawn on external funding for this purpose? If so, from which sources and in what amounts?
DCC previously used Department for Transport Capability and Ambition funding to install 4 air quality sensors in Exeter, at a cost of £4,763.60. However, these are no longer operated by the County Council.
VI. Collaboration and data integration
Does the authority collaborate on air quality monitoring with any other organisations (for example universities, non-governmental organisations, Defra, or neighbouring authorities)?
DCC collaborates with a range of partners, including district councils and other stakeholders, on air quality and associated health issues. This collaboration focuses on application of existing evidence to support population health.
Is the data from the authority’s monitoring system integrated with any publicly accessible air quality platforms (for example UK-AIR)?
DCC does not own or operate any air quality monitoring stations or sensors, and so does not hold any of the above information.
Does the authority use air quality monitoring data to inform operational decisions (for example issuing air quality alerts, managing traffic, or Local Air Quality Management action planning under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995)?
No.
Does the authority use air quality monitoring data to inform or educate residents?
Where relevant, data may be referenced in committee reports.
VII. Air quality in planning and environmental permitting.
When determining major development proposals (for example large construction, infrastructure, industrial, or minerals and waste schemes), does the authority require air quality or dust assessment, and does it attach conditions requiring air quality monitoring, dust management, or a Construction Environmental Management Plan during the works?
Applications are determined in accordance with the development plan. Information requirements and the need for conditions are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
For industrial installations that the authority regulates through environmental permitting, does it set air emission limits or air quality monitoring requirements as permit conditions?
DCC does not hold this information, as environmental permitting is the responsibility of the Environment Agency.
Where such conditions or permit requirements are imposed, is the operator required to carry out the monitoring, and is the resulting data reported to the authority or made publicly available?
As previously stated, environmental permitting is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. If monitoring is required through a planning condition, the reporting and availability of that data would be determined on a case-by-case basis through the planning process.