Air Quality Assessment to Support Your Planning Application

An air quality assessment is usually expected if the impact from a new development, increase in use of an existing property, or change of use is likely to be significant.

This may include increases in traffic movements, or the introduction of a new emission that may impact on the local air quality, such as a biomass boiler that may be within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

Without an assessment of air quality sources and their related impact to identified receptors, it would be impossible to propose effective mitigation measures. Therefore, the demand by local planning authorities for air quality assessments has increased significantly, particularly in support of planning applications for new developments or change of use proposals, where there are already sensitive receptors nearby or the site is within an AQMA.

The requirement for Air Quality Assessments are further defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which states that ‘Planning policies should sustain compliance with and contribute towards EU limit values or national objectives for pollutants, taking into account the presence of Air Quality Management Areas and the cumulative impacts on air quality from individual sites in local areas. Planning decisions should ensure that any new development in Air Quality Management Areas is consistent with the local air quality action plan’.

Therefore, an Air Quality Assessment should be considered where:

• A development proposal will generate a significant change in traffic volumes (such as a change in annual average daily traffic (AADT) and peak flows), vehicle speeds, congestion, parking and/or traffic composition (such as increases in HGV due to commercial use).
• A proposal for a new development or source of exposure within close proximity to existing sources (such as a busy road) and or increase in nitrogen deposition.
• A new emission source will be introduced such as a biomass boiler or CHP burning plant within or in close proximity to an AQMA.
• A sizable construction site is proposed as part of a new development that will generate significant HGV movements per day over a given period of time, often 1 year.
• Proposals could have a potential impact on nearby sensitive receptors such as emissions impacting on residential housing, creation of dust from construction works etc.

The need for the assessment will depend on the location and sensitivity of the proposed source, local planning authority requirements, policies and action plans, including guidance by Environmental Protection UK (EPUK).

Some important points to consider when commissioning an air quality assessment:

To enable us to produce an accurate assessment using ADMS-Roads where traffic impact is a dominant source, we will require traffic data (AADTs) and other information from a Transport Assessment. We work closely with companies who carry out Transportation Services and would be able to refer you or manage a Transport Assessment on your behalf if required.

The local Environmental Health Officer and Highways should be contacted to help ascertain the scope of the air quality assessment. This may also affect the need and scope for additional data to support the assessment such as the location of AADTs within the area of a new development.

To meet your requirements and ensure you remain compliant, Lustre Consulting have associate air quality assessors to offer a comprehensive air quality assessment service to our clients, complementing our other environmental planning support services.

We can provide an accurate assessment of your proposals in accordance with all relevant guidance and standards recommended by Environmental Protection UK and published by DEFRA and Environment Agency.

Our Air Quality Assessment services focus on planning support including:

• Air Quality impact modelling by ADMS-Roads.
• Preparation of air quality reports.
• Air Quality Action Plans.
• Environment Statements (to accompany an Environmental Impact Assessment).
• Landfill and ground gas monitoring (methane) – contaminated land assessment
• VOC monitoring – contaminated land assessment

Mitigation Measures
Any adverse impact on local air quality due to the construction and operational phases of the development will require mitigation.  As such, the assessment will provide best practice measures that may be used to minimise the impacts of poor air quality.

Air Quality Neutral Assessment
An Air Quality Neutral Assessment chapter may be required for proposed developments, especially in the greater London area. As defined under Policy SI 1 of the London Plan and detailed within the Mayor of London’s Sustainable Design and Control Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG).

Biomas or CHP (Combined Heat and Power)
If a CHP or biomass boiler is proposed this will also require additional assessment as part of the Air Quality Report.

Damage Cost Calculation
This is an estimate of the costs to society due to impact of increases in emissions associated with the proposed development, the basis of which is set by the government.

The value can then be applied as an indicator of the level of offsetting required (i.e. on-site mitigation measures), or as a financial obligation to the local planning authority by the developer which could then be used to go towards a broader scheme to reduce reliance on car use (i.e. a local bus service or air quality monitoring stations).

These are some frequently asked questions when commissioning an Air Quality Assessment:

Do I need an Air Quality Assessment?
If you are in doubt, you need to get pre-application advice from the LPA as this will depend on the location of the site, the magnitude of the development and potentially the number of vehicle movements your development could generate. Also, if your site is located within or close to an Air Quality Management Area, it is likely that you will be expected to provide an Air Quality Assessment or at the very least an Air Quality Emissions Statement (scaled down version).

What happens if I have an Air Quality problem?
If our assessment identifies and Air Quality issue, we will assess the impact they may have on indoor and outdoor spaces. Or the impact on the wider area if it is a major development due to traffic generation. Our reports include recommendations to provide mitigation measures to help reduce the air quality impacts to an acceptable level. These could be combined with other recommendations in our other reports, such as our Noise Assessments where similar measures may be required to protect future residents using properties.

How long will it take to prepare an Air Quality Assessment?
For delivery of our air quality assessment report we will usually require two to three weeks once we are in receipt of all information needed to complete the assessment. To undertake an assessment and for you to receive a report, we will require finalised development plans, details on the number of units and parking spaces. Depending on the type of assessment we may also require finalised traffic data from your transport consultant.

How can I be sure I need an Air Quality Assessment Report?
If you are unsure as to whether you require an Air Quality Assessment Report, please give us a call, so together we can discuss your requirements. Alternatively, please send an email to info@lustreconsulting.com and provide us with the site location and description of the proposed development.