Abstract

Combined knowledge of the legal context and health impacts led to air pollution becoming a priority in West Yorkshire. In this area, collaboration and multi-stakeholder involvement have led to the development of the West Yorkshire Low Emissions Strategy (WYLES), resulting in policy changes, sustainability initiatives and an incorporation of health and wellbeing concerns into transport and infrastructure planning, among other successes.

This case study describes the collaborative approach taken to tackle air pollution locally and summarises key outputs and outcomes of work to date, before providing a critical reflection on what can be learnt from the West Yorkshire experience. Collaborations were developed with researchers, and research outputs were fed into bid proposals and local policy development, constituting a pathway from research to practice. Other actions included public engagement, procurement guidance, engagement with the planning process, and a common strategy agreed across five local authorities.

Key lessons from the strategy development process include the need to involve a broad range of stakeholders, developing a shared ambition, and engaging across organisations. This case also highlights challenges around multiscale engagement. We discuss air pollution as a wicked problem, applying the lens of transitions management and a multidisciplinary systems change theory. In addition, we discuss the local experience in relation to the literature on collaborative public management.