FAQs

We have been told by Government to reduce NO₂ levels, especially on Holyhead Road where the levels are the highest in the city. If we cannot improve air quality the government will force us to introduce a clean air charging zone, which means you might have to pay to drive in some areas of the city. The plan will:

• reduce harmful nitrogen dioxide pollution levels to within national limits
• balance traffic flow along alternative routes in order to reduce traffic congestion and pollution levels
• improve the street scene particularly at Junction 7 to provide an attractive gateway from Spon End into the city centre
• improve cycling and walking facilities 

There will be some loss of parking in Upper Hill Street and Coundon Road. However, alternative parking will be provided in Barras Lane. There will also be loss of parking in Spon End, however, we will provide alternative off street parking. Overall, there will be no loss of parking.

We expect to start work on the construction of the projects in early 2022 subject to statutory processes and land acquisition. Before the main work starts, we will need to move utility services.

The scheme is being funded from the Air Quality Implementation Fund Grant, supplemented by the Transforming Cities Fund, both awarded to the Council by Central Government.

The city centre end of Holyhead Road is the most polluted area in Coventry. Changing Barras Lane at the junction with Holyhead Road and removing the traffic signals at this junction will help alleviate this problem. Making Barras Lane one way is only feasible when there is an alternative route for traffic from the Ring Road to Coundon.

The A4114 Holyhead Road at the city centre approach to Junction 8 of the Ring Road is the most polluted road in Coventry. A key objective of the Air Quality Project is to encourage drivers to use alternative routes dependent on real time monitoring of air quality. At the moment the pinch point at Spon End where the road narrows would stop us being able to do this.

The proposed plan will reduce pollution in the city and achieve a reduction in NO₂ to within agreed limits. Unlike the alternative charging zone, it will leave a long-lasting legacy of reduced congestion for traffic, improved walking and cycling facilities and improved public realm, particularly at Junction 7.

Currently there is two-way traffic along the busy two-way Barras Lane. Under these proposals Barras Lane will become a one way and Upper Hill Street will be one-way.

Currently the city centre section of Holyhead Road is the most polluted road in Coventry. When the proposed work is carried out, pollution levels will decrease on this section of road. However, the proposed work will not lead to non-compliance elsewhere and so overall will lead to improved air quality in the area of St Osburg’s School.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently published updated guidelines for a number of pollutants including NO2, meaning that their new acceptable limits of NO2 are lower than they were before. The Government will be considering these new guidelines as part of a wider Environmental Bill. We have been advised by Government that Coventry is still under direction to deliver an Air Quality Action Plan to reduce NO₂ concentrations to below the current legal limit (40 µg/m³ for NO₂ as an annual average) in the shortest possible time