Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Support Fund guidance

The LAQM Support Fund supports the Welsh Government’s long term ambitions for cleaner air, healthier communities and more resilient environments. It provides funding for local authorities to deliver targeted action that aligns with the Welsh Government’s strategic objectives and commitments on the air environment. These are set out in the Clean Air Plan for Wales. The plan highlights the importance of co ordinated local action to reduce public exposure to air pollution and improve the sound environment.

The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 builds on and strengthens existing legislation. It introduces new duties and national targets. Under this framework, local authorities play a central role in assessing, managing and reducing population exposure to air pollution and noise. The fund helps local authorities meet these responsibilities by supporting activity that focuses on promoting awareness, prevention, mitigation and innovation.

The fund also reflects wider commitments to long term wellbeing, equality and sustainable communities. These commitments are set out in legislation such as the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The purpose of this fund is to support local authorities in Wales to deliver air quality improvements that align with local and national air quality objectives.

In some cases, this may include improvements linked to noise and soundscapes, as a related aspect of local environmental quality. The Welsh Government’s strategic aims for noise and soundscapes are set out in the Noise and Soundscape Plan for Wales.

For examples of projects previously supported by the fund, see the Air Quality in Wales Annual Report.

The fund is available to support projects that meet one or more of the following criteria.

Promoting awareness

Action that improves understanding of air quality. It supports people to reduce their contribution and exposure, now and in the future.

Promoting awareness focuses on improving understanding of the causes and impacts of air pollution. It also shows how exposure can be reduced. This includes supporting individuals and organisations to take practical action that contributes to cleaner air. These projects aim to support long-term behaviour change and encourage informed decision making. They also help to ensure that improvements in air quality can be sustained. 

The Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan identifies priority areas for action, including domestic burning and stationary vehicle idling. The Wales Air Quality Awareness Survey also provides a baseline. It covers public awareness, attitudes, behaviours and self reported health and wellbeing impacts.

Prevention

Action that proactively improves air quality. It prevents an increase in concentrations of air pollutants and related problems.

Preventative work focuses on early action. It aims to stop air quality problems from developing or worsening. This could involve gathering better local evidence, shaping planning or transport decisions before issues arise, or making small but strategic improvements that reduce potential future emissions or exposure. 

For example, local authorities may want to look at areas expecting new development or traffic growth. They can then take steps to minimise emerging risks.

Mitigation

Action that improves air quality in local communities by addressing known issues.

Mitigation focuses on tackling existing problems, especially where poorer air quality is already identified or certain communities are disproportionately affected. These projects aim to reduce emissions and improve local conditions. They also aim to better understand the reasons for poor air quality so that solutions can be delivered. 

For example, local authorities may want to address stationary vehicle idling with activity that alerts drivers to the offence.

Innovation

Action that uses innovative approaches or technologies. It aims to improve air quality and/or reduce exposure to air pollutants.

Innovation projects allow authorities to explore or apply new tools, technologies or approaches. These can improve local understanding of air quality or offer more effective ways to reduce emissions and exposure. These projects are often pilots or trials. They help local authorities test new ideas and assess their value before wider use.

All local authorities in Wales can submit bids to the fund. Bids can be made by individual local authorities or by groups of local authorities for joint projects.

If funding is not fully allocated in the current financial year, further application rounds may be held. In this case, local authorities can submit additional bids. Projects must not duplicate funding already awarded under an existing contract.

Funding arrangements may change in some cases. For example, this may happen if a project runs beyond the funding period or is cancelled. In these cases, affected projects will be removed from the agreement and the total allocation will be adjusted. This will not affect eligibility for future rounds.

There are no minimum or maximum amounts of funding that can be applied for, providing they are within the overall budget available. If the overall amount of funding sought through bids is greater than the funding available, there is no guarantee that the full amount requested for any given project will be awarded. All bids will be subject to the same value for money assessment and will be assessed against each other.

Local authorities can apply without having an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) or identified air quality problems, as long as they meet an identified need in relation to local air quality.

Staff costs for delivering projects can be included in bids. These must be clearly detailed in the application. They must also be evidenced when submitting a claim. Routine staff costs are not eligible unless directly linked to project delivery.

Funding can only be used for eligible projects. These must be delivered within the timeframe set out in the funding agreement. Costs incurred before the award letter is issued are not eligible. Costs incurred outside the funding period are also not eligible.

Project bids should be for activity that goes beyond statutory duties and adds value to them. If there is uncertainty over the nature of a bid, or a compelling reason for statutory activity to be considered, discuss this with us before preparing an application. 

Bids should exclude VAT. Grant payments will be made for eligible expenditure only.

Where appropriate, local authorities should plan how projects supported by the fund can be sustained beyond the funding period. Bids that build on previously funded projects may be eligible for funding however the fund should not be used to support routine or longer-term activity. The fund is time limited and bids for each round are subject to a competitive assessment process.

Local authorities must show that proposed activity offers value for money. This may include evidence from procurement processes or a cost benefit analysis. They must also confirm that all purchases made under the fund will comply with procurement and subsidy control requirements.

Applications should identify any risks linked to the proposed activity. Where relevant, they should also explain the mitigating action proposed.

Applications must include quotes that provide a full breakdown of costs. Any additional sources of finance for the project should also be declared, where relevant.

Local authorities should include suitable evaluation arrangements in their bids. We recognise that the scale and complexity of evaluation will vary depending on the project. However, all projects should be able to provide evidence of what has been delivered and what changed as a result. They should also capture lessons learned to inform future activity.

The application window for 2026/27 has now closed. The application window ran from 17/7/2026 to 14/8/2026.

This fund operates on a payment in arrears basis. Eligible costs must be incurred and defrayed before a claim is submitted. Claims must be submitted to AirQualityPolicy@gov.wales using the claim form provided. Claims must include supporting evidence, such as paid invoices. Payment will be made once claims have been deemed acceptable.

Claims may be submitted in instalments in line with an indicative payment profile to be set out in the grant award letter. The same evidence requirements apply to each claim.

All claims must be submitted promptly. They must be received no later than two weeks after the funding agreement end date.

If you do not claim the full annual funding in accordance with the timescales set out in the indicative payment profile, any unclaimed amount will no longer be available. This does not affect eligibility for future funding rounds.

If you spend less than expected, you may request to reallocate funds. This requires prior approval. Contact us before committing to new costs.

Small internal reallocations may be allowed. These must not change the project’s purpose or outcomes, and they may need to be confirmed through a variation letter. Major reallocations will not be accepted if they significantly change the project.

For any queries, contact us at airqualitypolicy@gov.wales.