What's the air quality in South Cambridgeshire? NO₂ 8.8 µg/m³
In 2025 the average resident of South Cambridgeshire lived with background NO₂ of 8.8 µg/m³, High for England and Wales and below the WHO guideline of 10. PM2.5 was 8.3 µg/m³, Very High for England and Wales and 1.7 times the WHO guideline of 5. The typical area in England and Wales has NO₂ of 7.2 and PM2.5 of 7.4 µg/m³.
- PM2.5
- 8.3 µg/m³
- NO₂ for England and Wales
- High
- Figures for
- 2025 annual average
Modelled background levels averaged over where residents live (Census 2021), not roadside levels. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Defra modelled background pollution, 2025. How we calculate this
All house prices in South CambridgeshireIs the air quality good in South Cambridgeshire?
Background NO₂ in South Cambridgeshire is 8.8 µg/m³, below the WHO guideline of 10, and higher than the typical area (7.2). That puts it in the High band. Background PM2.5 in South Cambridgeshire is 8.3 µg/m³, 1.7 times the WHO guideline of 5, and higher than the typical area (7.4). That puts it in the Very High band. Most of England and Wales is above the WHO guideline for PM2.5, so the bands compare places with each other rather than giving a pass or fail.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂): 8.8 µg/m³
NO₂ level is High, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
High means the second-highest fifth of areas in England and Wales for NO₂.
| Very Low | up to 4.7 |
|---|---|
| Low | 4.7 to 6.5 |
| Typical | 6.5 to 7.7 |
| High | 7.7 to 9.2 |
| Very High | over 9.2 |
WHO guideline: 10 µg/m³ (in the Very High band). UK legal limit: 40 µg/m³.
Fine particles (PM2.5): 8.3 µg/m³
PM2.5 level is Very High, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
Very High means the highest fifth of areas in England and Wales for PM2.5.
| Very Low | up to 6.0 |
|---|---|
| Low | 6.0 to 7.2 |
| Typical | 7.2 to 7.7 |
| High | 7.7 to 8.2 |
| Very High | over 8.2 |
WHO guideline: 5 µg/m³ (in the Very Low band). UK legal limit: 20 µg/m³, with a target of 10 µg/m³ in England by 2040.
The bands split every area we cover into fifths by its level, from Very Low to Very High. The map uses the same colours.
Which part of South Cambridgeshire has the cleanest air?
Carlton has the lowest background NO₂ of the 103 areas of South Cambridgeshire, at 6.9 µg/m³. Orchard Park has the highest, at 11.5 µg/m³. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh air quality against cost.
| Area | NO₂ | PM2.5 | NO₂ band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarltonTypical | 6.9 | 8.0 | Typical | £510,000 |
| Weston ColvilleTypical | 7.0 | 8.0 | Typical | £1,052,500 |
| West WickhamTypical | 7.1 | 7.9 | Typical | £359,000 |
| West WrattingTypical | 7.1 | 8.0 | Typical | £451,250 |
| Shudy CampsTypical | 7.3 | 8.0 | Typical | £712,000 |
| Castle CampsTypical | 7.3 | 8.0 | Typical | £453,550 |
| BalshamTypical | 7.3 | 8.0 | Typical | £438,478 |
| BartlowTypical | 7.5 | 8.0 | Typical | £577,500 |
| HatleyTypical | 7.5 | 8.0 | Typical | £635,900 |
| HorseheathTypical | 7.5 | 8.0 | Typical | £498,750 |
| CroydonTypical | 7.5 | 8.1 | Typical | £600,000 |
| HeydonTypical | 7.5 | 8.1 | Typical | £495,000 |
| LongstoweTypical | 7.5 | 8.0 | Typical | — |
| Little GransdenTypical | 7.6 | 8.0 | Typical | £550,000 |
| KingstonTypical | 7.6 | 8.0 | Typical | £322,500 |
| Great and Little ChishillTypical | 7.6 | 8.1 | Typical | £653,750 |
| BournTypical | 7.7 | 8.0 | Typical | £647,250 |
| TadlowTypical | 7.7 | 8.0 | Typical | £512,953 |
| ArringtonHigh | 7.7 | 8.1 | High | £661,666 |
| Shingay cum WendyHigh | 7.7 | 8.1 | High | £952,666 |
| Abington PigottsHigh | 7.8 | 8.1 | High | £835,000 |
| ToftHigh | 7.8 | 8.0 | High | £712,140 |
| Great EversdenHigh | 7.8 | 8.0 | High | £445,000 |
| GamlingayHigh | 7.8 | 8.1 | High | £454,984 |
| RamptonHigh | 7.9 | 8.1 | High | £1,000,000 |
| Guilden MordenHigh | 7.9 | 8.1 | High | £786,116 |
| LitlingtonHigh | 7.9 | 8.1 | High | £604,316 |
| CaldecoteHigh | 7.9 | 8.1 | High | £505,763 |
| OrwellHigh | 8.0 | 8.1 | High | £501,714 |
| WimpoleHigh | 8.0 | 8.1 | High | £477,868 |
| EltisleyHigh | 8.0 | 8.0 | High | £537,500 |
| ElsworthHigh | 8.0 | 8.0 | High | £412,500 |
| Steeple MordenHigh | 8.0 | 8.1 | High | £595,889 |
| CottenhamHigh | 8.0 | 8.1 | High | £412,516 |
| LintonHigh | 8.0 | 8.1 | High | £500,911 |
| CaxtonHigh | 8.0 | 8.0 | High | £629,166 |
| Little EversdenHigh | 8.0 | 8.1 | High | £488,375 |
| CombertonHigh | 8.1 | 8.1 | High | £473,843 |
| HarltonHigh | 8.1 | 8.1 | High | £471,500 |
| CambourneHigh | 8.1 | 8.1 | High | £373,029 |
| HildershamHigh | 8.1 | 8.2 | High | £805,000 |
| BoxworthHigh | 8.1 | 8.1 | High | — |
| Bassingbourn cum KneesworthHigh | 8.2 | 8.1 | High | £410,903 |
| KnapwellHigh | 8.2 | 8.1 | High | — |
| NorthstoweHigh | 8.2 | 8.1 | High | £357,763 |
| Papworth EverardHigh | 8.2 | 8.0 | High | £361,777 |
| CroxtonHigh | 8.2 | 8.0 | High | £600,000 |
| MelbournHigh | 8.2 | 8.2 | High | £466,290 |
| GraveleyHigh | 8.2 | 8.0 | High | — |
| BarringtonHigh | 8.2 | 8.2 | High | £645,769 |
| WillinghamHigh | 8.2 | 8.1 | High | £381,208 |
| FowlmereHigh | 8.3 | 8.2 | High | £783,636 |
| Oakington and WestwickHigh | 8.3 | 8.2 | High | £474,458 |
| WhaddonHigh | 8.3 | 8.1 | High | £425,000 |
| Great WilbrahamHigh | 8.3 | 8.2 | High | £576,500 |
| LongstantonHigh | 8.3 | 8.2 | High | £440,971 |
| Papworth St. AgnesHigh | 8.3 | 8.0 | High | — |
| MeldrethHigh | 8.3 | 8.1 | High | £550,610 |
| Dry DraytonHigh | 8.3 | 8.3 | High | £645,214 |
| SheprethHigh | 8.4 | 8.2 | High | £608,666 |
| OverHigh | 8.5 | 8.1 | High | £397,940 |
| HardwickHigh | 8.5 | 8.2 | High | £449,076 |
| SwaveseyHigh | 8.5 | 8.2 | High | £413,456 |
| HaslingfieldHigh | 8.5 | 8.2 | High | £495,906 |
| FoxtonHigh | 8.5 | 8.2 | High | £482,210 |
| ConingtonHigh | 8.5 | 8.2 | High | £405,625 |
| Great AbingtonHigh | 8.6 | 8.2 | High | £671,562 |
| WaterbeachHigh | 8.7 | 8.2 | High | £412,375 |
| MadingleyHigh | 8.7 | 8.2 | High | £702,520 |
| Little WilbrahamHigh | 8.7 | 8.2 | High | £377,187 |
| Little AbingtonHigh | 8.8 | 8.3 | High | £659,056 |
| NewtonHigh | 8.9 | 8.4 | High | £482,000 |
| Fen DraytonHigh | 8.9 | 8.3 | High | £542,187 |
| ThriplowHigh | 8.9 | 8.3 | High | £497,687 |
| BartonHigh | 9.0 | 8.2 | High | £607,000 |
| FulbournHigh | 9.0 | 8.4 | High | £544,052 |
| LolworthHigh | 9.0 | 8.3 | High | £810,000 |
| LandbeachHigh | 9.0 | 8.2 | High | £570,208 |
| SawstonHigh | 9.1 | 8.4 | High | £399,737 |
| HinxtonHigh | 9.1 | 8.4 | High | — |
| CotonVery High | 9.2 | 8.3 | Very High | £666,500 |
| HarstonVery High | 9.2 | 8.4 | Very High | £529,090 |
| BabrahamVery High | 9.2 | 8.3 | Very High | £610,000 |
| PampisfordVery High | 9.3 | 8.4 | Very High | £707,500 |
| Bar HillVery High | 9.3 | 8.4 | Very High | £338,153 |
| HorningseaVery High | 9.4 | 8.3 | Very High | £360,000 |
| StaplefordVery High | 9.4 | 8.4 | Very High | £742,595 |
| IckletonVery High | 9.5 | 8.4 | Very High | £1,135,420 |
| WhittlesfordVery High | 9.5 | 8.5 | Very High | £510,796 |
| HistonVery High | 9.6 | 8.3 | Very High | £482,289 |
| Stow cum QuyVery High | 9.7 | 8.4 | Very High | £509,900 |
| DuxfordVery High | 9.9 | 8.4 | Very High | £635,416 |
| Little ShelfordVery High | 10.0 | 8.6 | Very High | £865,000 |
| TevershamVery High | 10.1 | 8.5 | Very High | £432,500 |
| Great ShelfordVery High | 10.1 | 8.5 | Very High | £826,217 |
| GirtonVery High | 10.2 | 8.5 | Very High | £629,319 |
| ImpingtonVery High | 10.2 | 8.5 | Very High | £585,333 |
| GrantchesterVery High | 10.2 | 8.5 | Very High | £375,000 |
| HauxtonVery High | 10.2 | 8.6 | Very High | £582,666 |
| MiltonVery High | 10.4 | 8.4 | Very High | £406,559 |
| Fen DittonVery High | 10.5 | 8.6 | Very High | £513,250 |
| South TrumpingtonVery High | 10.6 | 8.6 | Very High | £582,166 |
| Orchard ParkVery High | 11.5 | 8.7 | Very High | £280,730 |
Levels in µg/m³, 2025 annual average.
How does air quality in South Cambridgeshire compare with nearby areas?
Background NO₂ in South Cambridgeshire compared with the 4 nearest other areas in Cambridgeshire.
South Cambridgeshire vs Cambridge
- South Cambridgeshire
- NO₂ 8.8 µg/m³
- Cambridge
- NO₂ 10.9 µg/m³
Open comparison
South Cambridgeshire vs East Cambridgeshire
- South Cambridgeshire
- NO₂ 8.8 µg/m³
- East Cambridgeshire
- NO₂ 8.3 µg/m³
Open comparison
South Cambridgeshire vs Huntingdonshire
- South Cambridgeshire
- NO₂ 8.8 µg/m³
- Huntingdonshire
- NO₂ 9.3 µg/m³
Open comparison
South Cambridgeshire vs Fenland
- South Cambridgeshire
- NO₂ 8.8 µg/m³
- Fenland
- NO₂ 8.3 µg/m³
Open comparison
Does this include busy roads?
No. These are background levels: yearly averages over 1 km squares, away from the immediate influence of roads. Right beside a busy road in South Cambridgeshire, NO₂ can be much higher. Councils publish roadside monitoring in their annual air quality reports.
What else do people ask about South Cambridgeshire?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space, crime, air quality and listed buildings in South Cambridgeshire.
- What is the average house price in South Cambridgeshire?
- When did average house prices in South Cambridgeshire reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in South Cambridgeshire?
- What type of properties are sold in South Cambridgeshire?
- What price range do most homes sell for in South Cambridgeshire?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of South Cambridgeshire?
- How many parks and green spaces are in South Cambridgeshire?
- What is the crime rate in South Cambridgeshire?
- How many listed buildings are in South Cambridgeshire?
- How do South Cambridgeshire house prices compare with another area?
Where does this data come from?
Price information is from HM Land Registry, location boundaries are from OpenStreetMap, and households and population are from Nomis Census 2021 postcode estimates (21 March 2021). Parks and green space are from OS Open Greenspace. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Crime is from police.uk street-level data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk. Listed buildings and scheduled monuments are from Historic England and Cadw, and conservation areas from planning.data.gov.uk. © Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Source: planning.data.gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0. Air quality is from Defra modelled background pollution maps. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Defra modelled background pollution, 2025.
Last updated 11 November 2026 at 01:36 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The South Cambridgeshire dataset covers 7,873 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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