Air Quality Assessments – Northern Ireland & Belfast

Air Quality in Northern Ireland is generally good. However, there are several hotspots and there are currently 19 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) declared across the country.

Northern Ireland has its own Environment Agency (Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)) and planning policy and air quality is managed in subtly different ways compared to the rest of the UK.

When do you need an air quality assessment in Northern Ireland?

Air quality assessments in Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland 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. Belfast City Council provides further good guidance on when an air quality assessment may be required, and what is should contain.

When might you need an odour assessment in Northern Ireland?

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 Northern Ireland sometimes 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) and intensive agriculture operations. Utility companies often have 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 Northern Ireland. 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

Antrim and Newtownabbey │ Ards and North Down │ Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon │ Belfast │ Causeway Coast and Glens │ Derry and Strabane │ Fermanagh and Omagh │ Lisburn and Castlereagh │ Mid and East Antrim │ Mid Ulster │ Newry, Mourne and Down │