Air Quality Assessments in the UK
Poor air quality has a profound impact on health, with both immediate and long-term consequences.
Pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can irritate the respiratory system, exacerbate asthma, and impair lung function. Prolonged exposure raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and stroke. Recognising these health impacts, local authorities have a duty to protect public health through the planning system, ensuring developments do not worsen air quality or increase exposure to poor air quality.
Air quality assessments are essential for many types of development throughout the UK, but the specific requirements and scope may vary depending on the location. Below are examples highlighting how different councils and regions address air quality and determine the necessity of such assessments.
GEM Air Quality Ltd have the expertise to undertake air quality assessments across the UK. We offer a responsive, efficient, and reliable service. The air quality assessments are designed to be both rigorous and effective in supporting planning approvals. We provide competitive quotes and can typically deliver results within 3-5 working days. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in London
Research undertaken by Imperial Collage London suggests that in 2019 there were approximately 4,000 premature deaths in London as a result of "toxic air".
The majority of Boroughs within London have declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that encompasses most, if not all, of the Borough. Parts of London have some of the worst air quality in the United Kingdom and the London Plan seeks to help address this by ensuring that future developments meet certain requirements with regards to potential air quality impacts and are at least air quality neutral, preferably air quality positive.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) and/or Air Quality Neutral Assessment (AQNA) within London based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Greater Manchester
According to Clean Air Greater Manchester, poor air quality has resulted in the premature deaths of 1,200 people in the region each year.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that covers the 10 districts of Greater Manchester, including arterial routes, district centres, and airport. Air quality hotspots include the following:
- Ardwick Green, Queens Road and Oxford Road in Manchester
- Broughton Road, Regent Road and Bury Old Road in Salford
- Derby Street, Salford Road and Junction 4 of the M61 in Bolton
- Shaw Road and Oldham Road in Oldham
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA), within Greater Manchester based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Sussex
In conjunction with the Sussex Air Quality Partnership, local authorities across Sussex have developed air quality planning guidance to assist developers in assessing the potential for air quality impacts from development and transport-related emissions.
The guidance allows for a consistent approach with regards to mitigating those impacts. The guidance provides a screening checklist and identifies whether the proposed development requires:
- No further action to address air quality, because they are considered unlikely to have an impact on local air quality. An air quality statement should be undertaken that screens out the potential air quality impacts;
- An Emissions Mitigation Assessment to avoid, minimise and off-set the impact on local air quality;
- An Air Quality Assessment (AQA) and an Emissions Mitigation Assessment.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within Sussex based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in West Midlands
According to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) up to 2,300 people die early due to long term exposure to air pollution every year in the region.
The West Midlands Low Emissions Towns & Cities Programme (LETCP) has produced the “Good Practice Air Quality Planning Guidance” that aims to provide a model approach for integrating air quality considerations into land-use planning policies across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The guidance provides a development classification checklist and the level of assessment required based on a minor, medium or major scheme classification. The level of assessment ranges from an exposure assessment to a full impact assessment, including an Emissions Mitigation Assessment.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within the West Midlands based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in West Yorkshire
The West Yorkshire Low Emissions Strategy Group (WYLES) has published the “West Yorkshire Air Quality & Emissions Technical Planning Guidance” that aims to introduce an air quality assessment classification scheme.
This includes the quantification of impacts, formulating damage costs and identifying mitigation measures to be implemented to negate the impact. The guidance applies across the five West Yorkshire local authorities (Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Wakefield and Kirklees).
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within West Yorkshire based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Nottingham
As outlined in the Air Quality Strategy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 2020-2030, almost 650 deaths were attributable to air pollution in the region in 2016.
Nottingham City Council has declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that encompasses the entire administrative areas of Nottingham City Council. With regards to air quality, Policy IN2 within the Councils “Land and Planning Policies Document - LAPP (2020)” states that “the development proposals, either individually or cumulatively, will not contribute to poor air quality (including air pollution and odour nuisance), are designed to reduce the exposure of occupants and users of the development to air pollutants, and, where possible, include measures for the improvement of air quality”.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within the Nottingham based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Sheffield
Sheffield City Council has declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that encompasses the whole of the urban area of Sheffield, excluding the Peak Park area.
Air quality hotspots include:
- A6109 Brightside Lane
- A6105 Penistone Road
- A61 Sheffield Road
As outlined on the Councils website, an Air Quality Assessment (AQA) is required for any development that generates >60 vehicle movements in any hour within 200m of an area exceeding Air Quality Limitation Values. It is also required where sensitive uses, such as housing or schools, are being introduced to or within 200m of the area.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within Sheffield based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Kent & Medway
As reported by Kent County Council, there were approximately 922 deaths associated with particulate matter (PM2.5) in Kent and Medway in 2017. This is in addition to premature deaths as a result of exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
The Kent and Medway Air Quality Partnership have produced “Air Quality Planning Guidance”, which includes a screening checklist to determine whether an Air Quality Assessment (AQA) is required and if so, the scope of the assessment. An Emissions Mitigation Assessment may also be required, following consultation with the relevant Council.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within the Kent & Medway based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Birmingham
The City Council has declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that encompasses the whole city.
Despite the introduction of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in June 2021, which has resulted in reductions in measured nitrogen dioxide concentrations, some monitoring sites are still recording exceedences of the relevant air quality objectives. These persistent exceedences are located either within the city centre or adjoining the A4540 ring road.
Policy TP37 “Health” within the Councils Local Plan seeks to reduce health inequalities, increase life expectancy and improve quality of life by improving air quality and reduce noise within the City. An Air Quality Assessment (AQA) can help to achieve this by identifying where the air quality objectives are likely to be exceeded across a proposed development, or where the objectives are likely to be approached or exceeded as a result of the proposed development, and make appropriate recommendations regarding the mitigation of these impacts.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within Birmingham based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
Air Quality Assessments in Liverpool
As with many other local authorities across the country, Liverpool exceeds the national air quality standard for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) at several locations.
The areas where these exceedences occur are generally localised to the areas with higher levels of traffic, such as the Strand and Lime Street. The Council has declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that encompasses the whole of the City of Liverpool.
Policy R1 “Pollution” refers to air quality within the planning process and states that development proposals which are likely to have a pollution impact should demonstrate that:
- Appropriate measures are incorporated to avoid pollution to air, water and soil;
- The impact of noise, vibration and lighting will not be significant;
- The proposal will not undermine the achievement of Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) objectives; and
- It will not lead to a significant decline in air quality.
The completion of an Air Quality Assessment (AQA) will help determine whether these policy objectives are met and, if not, what measures can be adopted to minimise impact and exposure to poor air quality.
GEM Air Quality Ltd can assist in undertaking an Air Quality Assessment (AQA), Emissions Mitigation Assessment and/or Air Quality Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) within the Kent & Medway based on national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. Typical turnaround for our assessments is less than 5 working days and no site visit is required. Please contact us on 0800 689 4329 or email us for a free, no obligation quote.
