Air quality assessments
We'll help you understand what air quality assessment you need...
An air quality assessment is often required to support a planning application, or requested as a reserved matter or condition with planning approval.
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The extent of an air quality assessment will differ between local authorities. It may encompass an emissions mitigation assessment, air quality neutral assessment, dust risk assessment, and more.
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With large-scale developments, environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are often required, and an air quality chapter will be included.
FAQs
What is an air quality assessment?
An air quality assessment will assess the effect of changes in exposure of members of the public resulting from residential and mixed-use developments, especially those within urban areas where air quality is poorer. It will also assess the effect to the local air quality as a result of the development proposal.
What is the purpose of an air quality assessment?
To ensure that air quality is adequately considered in the land-use planning and development control processes.
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Air quality assessments play a critical role in protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting the development of effective policies and strategies to manage and reduce air pollution.
When is an air quality assessment required?
An air quality assessment is often a requirement by the local planning authority to support a planning application, to assist the decision-making process. The requirement and scope of an air quality assessment is driven by national, regional and local planning policy, legislation and guidance.
Air quality assessment requirements differ between local authority areas dependant on the local planning policies. For example, emissions mitigation assessments is often a requirement in Sussex, and Air Quality Neutral Assessments and Air Quality Positive Statements may be required in London.
What are the criteria for an air quality assessment?
Air quality concentrations are measured and predicted in accordance with the air quality standards in the UK National Air Quality Strategy.
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The main pollutants of health concern is from road traffic, and include nitrogen dioxide (NOâ‚‚) and fine particles (PM10 and PM2.5) for which air quality standards have been established.
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Other types of assessment...
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