Air pollution legislation

This page provides links to key pieces of relevant environmental legislation. Most of the links will direct you to the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) or Statute Law Database (SLD) websites.

It is important to remember that different parts of the UK have variations in environmental laws.

The future legislation section provides details of environmental legislation that is due to come into force as well as information on proposed developments in environmental law:

Future legislation

UK-wide

England and Wales

• Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations 1958 SI 498 (not available online) 
  Allows dark smoke to be emitted for a specified total duration within an 8-hour period, or longer if it involves soot blowing. 

Northern Ireland

• Clean Air (Emission of Dark Smoke) (Exemption) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981 (not available online)
  Makes it an offence to emit dark smoke from industrial or trade premises, with detailed exemptions. Sets conditions for some burning. (Waste management licensing legislation may apply to these activities too.)

Scotland

• Clean Air (Emission of Dark Smoke) (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 1969 SI 1389 (not available online)
  Exempts from the Clean Air Regulations the emission of dark smoke caused by burning certain materials, subject to specified conditions, eg timber from a building demolition.
• Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) (Scotland) Regulations 1958 SI 1933  (not available online)
  Allows dark smoke to be emitted for a specified total duration within an 8-hour period, or longer if it involves soot blowing. 

Further information

The current environmental legislation lists provide links to key environmental statutes and regulations.

Current environmental legislation

For further information on relevant legislation contact your environmental regulator or local council.

Contact your environmental regulator
Contact your local council