The London Clean Air Act of 1956 was introduced in response to the catastrophic Great Smog of 1952, which caused thousands of deaths due to severe air pollution. This landmark legislation mandated the use of smokeless fuels and aimed to curb urban air pollution in London. The Act represented a significant shift in public health policy, emphasizing the need for environmental regulation to protect urban populations.

The London Clean Air Act of 1956 marked a turning point in British poetry, as it ended the romanticized imagery of 'London fog.' Poets began to embrace stark urban realism, reflecting on the environmental changes and the complexities of modern life in their works.