Air Quality Commission

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has established a resident-led Air Quality Commission to look into the problem of air pollution in west London. The inquiry will produce a report of findings and recommendations for action.

Read the Commission's final report (pdf 2MB)

Background and purpose

Hammersmith & Fulham has the eighth highest percentage of early deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide and to particulate matter air pollution in London, according to a report by King’s College London. The report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, estimates that this contributes to the early deaths of 203 residents per year.

In response to this, Hammersmith & Fulham Council established a resident-led Air Quality Commission to look into the problem. The commission engaged with external experts and local residents in examining the causes and dangers of local air pollution and has proposed potential solutions to help reduce it. Hammersmith resident, Rosemary Pettit, chaired the commission, which will run for some nine months and reported to Hammersmith & Fulham Council in September and November 2016.

H&F was designated as an Air Quality Management Area in 2000, as it exceeds health based objectives for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. It is, therefore, required to produce and implement an Air Quality Action Plan setting out the measures the council intends to put in place to reduce human exposure to these air pollutants. The current plan was the subject of consultation in 2016, has been informed by the findings of the AQC and will be published in 2017.

The Commissioners

Rosemary Pettit (Chair)

Rosemary’s professional background is in publishing. She has lived in Hammersmith since 1999 and has been engaged in voluntary and community work in the borough for many years. She was the Membership Secretary of Brackenbury Residents Association and from 2012-15 chaired the Hammersmith Society.

Kate Forbes

Kate is Senior Producer for BBC News and has won several awards for her television work all over the world.  A key area of focus for her between 2006-8 was science and environment, when she undertook several projects on climate change, for Newsnight, the Today programme, Ten O’Clock news and BBC Online. She lives in Shepherds Bush.

David Chamberlain

David has lived in Fulham for the last 16 years and been a Commercial Director for Oracle UK for the past 20 years. After graduating in Natural Sciences he joined BP, where he worked on computer modelling, economic analysis and negotiation of contracts. He has also worked in Hamburg and for the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations.

Andrew Pendleton

Andrew is Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He is also a member of Hammersmith & Fulham Friends of the Earth group and is representing them on the commission.  He has lived in the borough for 20 years.

Professor Derek Clements-Croome

Derek is an architectural engineer and a professor at Reading University. He specialises in the design and management of intelligent buildings and lives in Hammersmith. He is a built environment expert for the Design Council and a Fellow of the Building Research Establishment.

Natalie Lindsay

Natalie’s professional background is in project management.  She is the Principal of the local Fulham music school, Music’all, which operates out of Lady Margaret School, Parsons Green. She has lived on Wandsworth Bridge Road in Fulham for over 20 years.

Stage 1: A review of relevant information

The commission has conducted a literature review, examining current research into air quality in London and other cities around the world and existing action plans for improving air quality. The key documents that have been examined as part of this review are listed below.

Stage 2: An open call for evidence

Read the press release dated 14 January 2016 - Residents back Hammersmith & Fulham's Air Quality Commission and share their experiences of air pollution

Stage 3: Public hearing

The Commission consulted H&F residents on its findings and draft recommendations at a meeting of the Community Safety, Environment and Residents’ Services Policy and Accountability Committee on 21 September 2016.

Stage 4: Commission report

The final report was received by Cabinet on 7 November 2016 and its recommendations are now being followed up.  Read the final report (pdf 2MB).

Read previous air quality related news articles.

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