Air Quality Assessments – Northeast

When do you need an air quality assessment in the Northeast of England?

The northeast of england is made up of the ceremonial counties of County Durham and Northumberland. There are several Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in the Northeast of England including those in Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham itself.

Air quality assessments in the Northeast of England 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 two major combined authorities in the Northeast of England:

• North of Tyne Combined Authority, comprising Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle.
• North East Combined Authority, comprising Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

The combined authorities were created to deliver enhanced local economic growth by working together more ambitiously. However, planning is still the responsibility of individual councils making up the two authorities. Air Quality Assessments are generally required in the Northeast of England if a proposal is classified as Major or if the site is located in an AQMA. However, the individual council’s planning validation checklists should always be consulted.

• Newcastle City Council
• Sunderland City Council
• Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
• South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
• North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
• Darlington Borough Council
• Durham County Council
• Middlesborough Council
• Northumberland County Council
• Hartlepool Borough Council

When might you need an odour assessment in the Northeast of England?

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 Northeast of England 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.

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

Darlington Borough Council│ Durham County Council│ Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council│ Hartlepool Borough Council│ Middlesbrough Council│ Newcastle City Council│ North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council│ Northumberland County Council│ South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council│ Sunderland City Council│