An Air Quality Assessment or Air Quality Impact Assessment is an important condition of planning for the evaluation of a potential risk to the local environment of reduced air quality.

The combination of poor air quality in urban areas and the increase in demand for housing areas has led to an increase in the development of sites within poor air quality areas. The considerations for local planners reviewing the air quality in an urban area and housing requirements are multifaceted, requiring identification of air quality for the new residents of the development and recognising the impact of the construction phase on the existing local environment residents.

Air Quality Impact Assessment is often requested by an Environmental Health Officer or Local Planning Officer as part of the assessment procedure of planning submission where air quality is likely to be impacted. Air Quality is a prominent consideration when a development is located within Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

Air Quality Assessments have one or both of the following elements:

• Site Suitability to determine suitability for residential development due to the proximity to major sources of pollutant emissions or being located within an existing AQMA.
• Impact Assessment to determine whether approval will result in a deterioration of local air quality because of increases in traffic movements.

Using analytical assessments and defined methodologies, Air Quality Assessments identify whether there is a risk of impact to the local environment and provide mitigation where necessary to protect residents and businesses.

Air Quality requirements from the Local Authority can relate both to the impact to the local environment of the development once completed and the impact of the construction process to air quality. Air Quality Impact Assessment during construction identifies air quality risks from on-site activities and recommends mitigation measures for inclusion in the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).

Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Assessments

The Environment Act (1995) requires the Local Authorities (LA) to periodically review and assess air quality within their Local Authority. During the review, the Local Authority must identify areas where there are likely to be exceedances of the national air quality objectives.

Where the air quality objectives are exceeded, the local authority under the Act are required to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and develop an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). The Air Quality Action Plan sets out the Local Authority plans for achieving the objectives. The process is known as the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM).

Dust Management Plan (DMP) and Dust Monitoring

The purpose of the Dust Management Plan is to risk assess the potential exposure of airborne pollutants namely from construction operations, to construction workers and nearby offsite human and ecological receptors. Dust Management Plans during construction identifies recommends mitigation measures for inclusion in the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) often including periodic or real time dust monitoring solutions.

A technical report is produced following completion of the Air Quality Assessment. Recommendations and proposed amendments are made within the report to ensure the development complies with relevant standards and guidance. For planning the report is provided to the Local Authority (Council) for approval. The responsibility falls on the developer to ensure all recommendations, amendments and mitigation measures are completed.

Equipment for Air Quality Impact Assessment.

Unsurprisingly the software utilised for Air Quality Impact Assessment is highly specialised. ADMS-Roads is used by Compliance 4 Buildings to model and identify the impact from road traffic emissions. ADMS-Roads is used for undertaking assessments in support of planning applications, and for Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) assessments.

ADMS-5 is used in addition to ADMS-Roads when the impact from a point source is required as part of the air quality assessment. ADMS 5 is used in the UK by the Environment Agency.

The scope of Air Quality Impact Assessments can vary from one project to another. Compliance 4 Buildings will review all requirements and create an individual proposal. To receive a proposal and quote please contact Compliance 4 Buildings directly via our contact us page or on 0203 556 2407.