London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has rightly made improving air quality a priority. This month he has announced a 2019 start date for London’s ultra-low emission zone. It is hoped that this will help to reduce vehicle emissions by 50% by 2020. Improvements to air quality will be welcomed not just by ordinary Londoners but also by the real estate sector.

Cities are the perfect places for electric vehicles. The electrical infrastructure required for charging points is in place and a government subsidy is available for these vehicles.

But our cycling infrastructure needs improvement. Residential areas with safe and convenient cycle routes to work will be more attractive to potential buyers and tenants, so this is something the whole property industry should get behind.

Through the use of apps and wearable monitors, air quality data is increasingly transparent to building occupiers. This can influence how people travel to work and how they view their working environment, potentially acting as a differentiator to potential tenants. The Kings College air quality website can demonstrate which sites in London have better air quality, although there’s probably a way to go before this data starts affecting land or property values.

As outdoor air quality improves, we’re likely to see more city centre schemes adopting natural ventilation strategies instead of air conditioning, resulting in a virtuous circle of reduced carbon dioxide emissions from our buildings.

Whilst urban greening is very pleasant, it isn’t going to solve air quality problems any time soon. We agree with the Mayor of London that the solution lies in vehicle use. We therefore welcome the Sadiq Khan’s announcement, as should everyone in the property industry and across our capital city.