Air pollution plans to be unveiled by Government after legal challenge

The Government will publish its plan to tackle illegal air pollution levels within a week after deciding not to challenge a court ruling.

The Tory administration had attempted to delay the draft air quality strategy, which was due to be published on 24 April, arguing election rules meant it could not be released until after voting on 8 June.

But last week environmentalists challenged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - and won.

No 10 has now said it will not appeal against the ruling, but will instead publish the plans to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, largely caused by diesel emissions, to meet EU air quality standards.

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The Government will now have to publish the air quality plan before 9 May.

Theresa May's spokesman said: "We have looked at the judgment from last week and we will not be appealing.

"The court deadline was May 9 and we will be meeting that deadline.

"We will publish at the earliest opportunity after local election purdah is over and before the deadline."

Lawyers for campaign group ClientEarth successfully argued there were not sufficient grounds to justify a delay, which could cost lives by allowing excessive pollution to continue for longer.

Air pollution is linked to an estimated 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK, and some 37 out of 43 regions of the country are in breach of legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that he plans to charge diesel drivers £24 a day to drive into central London from 2019.

The Government is understood to be considering charging drivers of diesel cars £20 a day in 35 cities across England by 2019 to hit the target.