Air Quality Assessments – East Midlands

The East Midlands is a region in England, UK. It is located in the eastern part of the Midlands, which is a traditional geographic area in the central part of England. The East Midlands region is made up of six counties including: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland. For the most up to date data on air quality in the East Midlands, have a look at the data provided by UK-AIR.

The East Midlands Air Quality Network comprises the local authorities that come together that have come together to help manage air quality across the East Midlands. The purpose of the network is to provide accurate and up-to-date information on air quality to local authorities, environmental agencies, and the public, and to provide planning guidance to developers.

When do you need an air quality assessment in the East Midlands?

Air quality assessments in the East Midlands 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. There are several Air Quality Management Areas in the East Midlands, including those in Northampton and Nottingham.  AQMAs are areas where national air quality objectives are exceeded.

The East Midlands Air Quality Planning guidance set out whether you will need an air quality assessment in the region. Air quality impact assessments are generally required in the region 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. Many authorities in the East Midlands also require major development to provide a ‘damage cost’ calculation, which determines the amount a developer should be spending on air quality mitigation. In some cases, a developer would be required to provide a financial contribution if insufficient mitigation is provided on-site.

Air Quality in the East Midlands region can be poor, especially in the major urban centres. The East Midlands Air Quality Planning Guidance is an essential means to prevent an incremental creep in air pollution and to ensure that the design of proposals in air pollution hotspots are suitable.

When might you need an odour assessment in the East Midlands?

Local authorities also often 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.

Development in the East Midlands occurs on greenbelt land, on the edge of towns and villages. This can put proposed development at risk from odorous emissions from wastewater treatment works. Anglian Water and other utility companies has specific odour assessment requirements to ensure that development does not influence its operation.

How Greenavon can help?

Greenavon have developed working relationships with several local authority officers in the East Midlands. We routinely consult with them 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.

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