Air Quality Assessments – Birmingham

Much of greater Birmingham has been declared an air quality management area (AQMA) and in Birmingham City Council have rolled out their Low Emission Zone to bring concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in line with legal limits in the shortest possible time.

When do you need an air quality assessment in Birmingham?

Air quality assessments in Birmingham are required to ensure that proposals do not significantly impact neighbours during construction (e.g., from the release of dusts and odorous gases from construction and demolition), during operation (due to the release of emissions from central heating systems, or from associated road vehicles) and to make sure the design is sensitive to existing areas of poor air quality. As Birmingham is such a densely populated space, consideration of air quality during operation and construction is important to protect the people of Birmingham’s health and amenity.

Air quality impact assessments are generally required in Birmingham if a proposal includes more than 10 houses, includes more than 1000m² of commercial floorspace, or introduces highly sensitive uses next to a main road, or other pollution source. The West Midlands Low Emissions Towns & Cities Programme, led by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, provides a Good Practice Air Quality Planning Guidance which sets out the requirements for air quality assessments in the City and West Midlands. Major development are required to provide a damage cost calculation to justify the amount of air quality mitigation included in design.

When might you need an odour assessment in Birmingham?

Several local authorities also require that for any new kitchen extract system (e.g. for an application for a restaurant, or takeaway), that the planning application (e.g. change of use) provides evidence that the new kitchen extract system is designed to minimise the potential for any odour impacts.

How Greenavon can help?

Greenavon have developed close working relationships with several local authority officers across the UK. We routinely consult with local authority officers to discuss a project and, where possible, agree the assessment approach in advance of planning submission. This is done to maximise the project’s chances of gaining planning permission and minimising the need for any additional work which might be required via planning condition.

If you would like to discuss a project, or learn more about our services (including costs), please do not hesitate to get in contact.