Exeter is England's cleanest city

Based on independent environmental data

Exeter is the cleanest city in England according to a new report by environmental data organisation Ends Report.

It ranked the country’s 55 largest urban centres to come up with an index based on more than 30 environmental factors grouped into five categories – air quality, climate, water quality, public realm and green behaviour.

The result: Exeter is tops!

Devon's capital finished ahead of Worthing and Brighton in a top five, which is dominated by cities on England’s south coast.

Exeter ranked highly on several measures, including air quality, climate and water quality. It recorded fewer days of poor air quality than any other urban centre in the index, and boasted below average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Exeter City Council is claiming the credit. It says it "has been focussing over recent years on the challenges of climate change, air quality, water quality, congestion, local amenity and quality of life long."

London finished at the bottom of the ranking. While the capital performed strongly on climate and green behaviour – it has the lowest proportion of residents commuting by private vehicle, and a high level of electric vehicle charging device provision – the capital has overall poor air quality.

Jamie Carpenter, editor of Ends Report, said: “The Clean Cities Index is intended to start a debate about the state of the environment in our biggest towns and cities, and shine a spotlight on some of the wide environmental disparities that exist between them.”