New plans are being introduced targeting the most polluting building site machinery to improve London's air quality.

New planning rules, announced by Lord Mayor Boris Johnson, will require construction equipment to meet standards for both particulates (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), cutting emissions by approximately 40% by 2020.

Equipment over 10 years old will need to be replaced or retrofitted on all developments in central London and major developments in outer London (10 homes or more or 1,000 sq foot in other developments), with occasional exemptions for specialist construction machinery. They will also improve the control of dust from construction and demolition activity which can cause significant health impacts and is responsible for up to 15% of air pollutant emissions in London.

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Mr Johnson said: "By replacing the oldest and most polluting bulldozers and machinery on building sites we can greatly reduce harmful emissions and boost our air quality. We've all walked past construction sites and seen thick clouds of dust generated from equipment that simply hasn't been updated or replaced in decades.

"This new guidance will reduce NOx and is part of a series of strong measures including the Ultra Low Emission Zone from 2020, that will greatly reduce Londom's air pollution from all emission sources."

(CD/JP)