Lambeth’s vegetation removed the least amount of pollution from the air out of any region in the UK, at a cost of more than £3 per person – as new statistics link pollution-removing vegetation with health savings.

The figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show pollution absorbed by vegetation has a direct health-cost savings for the NHS.

The pollution removed by vegetation in the borough varied from 296 kg per square kilometre in Streatham, to zero in Brixton.

The UK average is 5,619 kg per square kilometre.

Cllr Claire Holland, cabinet member for environment and clean air, said the borough’s proximity to central London and major transport networks were behind the area’s air pollution.

“Poor air quality is a killer – we are under no illusions about the scale of the problem – and it is a key priority for this council to tackle it,” she said.

“This is why we are determined to do all we can to tackle the problem, including innovative measures around planting.

“We already have two green screens at primary schools located on main roads, with four more due imminently, to protect our young people and we have planted over 3,000 trees since 2009 with many more to come.

“We have also successfully lobbied the Mayor of London for a Clean Bus Corridor, made cycling easier and safer through new infrastructure and training, and engaged residents and businesses with our Love Lambeth Air monitoring programme.”

The amount saved in healthcare costs from vegetation in Lambeth was £12.50, compared to the UK average of £15.53.

This means there is less money saved in health damage costs per person in the area.

This includes the costs of lung and heart-related hospital admissions and premature deaths, according to the ONS.