Air Quality Assessments – Essex

When do you need an air quality assessment in Essex?

Air quality assessments in Essex 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.

Air quality impact assessments are generally required in Essex if a proposal includes more than 10 houses, includes more than1000m² of commercial floorspace, or introduces highly sensitive uses next to a main road, or other pollution source. Some local authorities in Essex also requires 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.

The Essex Design Guide sets out how sustainable development is to be promoted across the County. The guidance includes measures designed to minimise air quality impacts. Each local authority manages air quality in its own adminstrative area, with many councils adopting additional air quality planning guidance. Authorities, in Essex, with dedicated air quality planning guidance are listed below:

• Uttlesford District Council: Air Quality Technical Planning Guidance
• Colchester Borough Council: Planning guidance note on Air Quality.
• Maldon District Council: Assessing Air Quality and Emissions Impacts from Development Technical Document

Air Quality: Epping Forest

Air Quality management in Essex is further complicated by the regions proximity to sensitive ecological habitats including the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). This environment is being adversely impacted by emissions from road traffic, which is causing this special habitat to change and lose its unique features.

Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) recently had a moratorium on all new development outside their Local Plan, because of potential impacts on the Forest. EFDC have now released an interim Air Pollution Mitigation Strategy detailing how air quality effects from new development could be minimised. Proposals that are not included in EFDC’s Local Plan may also need to carry out a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) to ensure that it doesn’t damage the integrity of the forest. The scale of the HRA is determined by the amount of traffic it generates and where that traffic goes.

When might you need an odour assessment in Essex?

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 Essex 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 (WwTW). Southern Water has specific odour assessment requirements to ensure that development does not influence its operation. 

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.

Where We Work

Basildon Borough Council│ Braintree District Council│ Brentwood Borough Council│ Castle Point Borough Council│ Chelmsford City Council│ Colchester Borough Council│ Epping Forest District Council│ Harlow District Council│ Maldon District Council│ Rochford District Council│ Tendring District Council│ Uttlesford District Council│