Air Quality Assessments – Bristol

When do you need an air quality assessment in Bristol?

Much of Bristol’s City Centre has been declared an air quality management area (AQMA) and Bristol City Council have rolled out a Clean Air Zone to bring concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in line with legal limits in the shortest possible time.

Air quality assessments in Bristol 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 Bristol is such a densely populated space, consideration of air quality during operation and construction is important to protect the people of Bristol health and amenity.

Air quality impact assessments are generally if a proposal includes more than 10 houses, includes more than1000m² of commercial floorspace, or introduces highly sensitive uses to an AQMA. Bristol’s validation checklist sets out that they follow best practice EPUK & IAQM guidance when deciding whether an air quality assessment is required.

When might you need an odour assessment in Bristol?

Bristol also requires Ventilation and Extraction Statements to ensure that commercial kitchen extract systems are designed to minimise emissions of odour and noise.

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.