Air Quality Assessments – Yorkshire

There are several Air Quality Management Areas in Yorkshire, including those in Leeds, Hull, Malton and Bradford and the historical town of York. Much of York was built before the invention of cars and as such, York has a series of narrow streets designed for the horse and carriage age. In these environments pollution from road vehicles can struggle to disperse resulting in pollution hotspots,

When do you need an air quality assessment in Yorkshire?

Air quality assessments in Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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.

Further details of when air quality assessments are required in Yorkshire can be found in the validation checklists of the local authorities within Yorkshire and the Humber.

Council	Local Advice
Barnsley	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Air Quality and Emissions Good Practice Planning Guidance
Bradford	West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy
Calderdale	West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy and Self Certification Air Quality Assessment Form for minor development
Doncaster	Doncaster Council Air Quality Technical Planning Guidance: Guidance for developers
East Riding or Yorkshire	Assessments should be proportionate to the nature and scale of the development proposed and the level of concern about air quality, following Planning Practice Guidance.
Hull	Hull City Council: Air Quality Guidance for Planners and Developers
Kirklees	West Yorkshire Low Emissions Strategy 2016-2021 (Dec 2016) and Air Quality and Emissions Technical Planning Guidance (West Yorkshire Low Emissions Group).
Leeds	Building for Tomorrow Today – Sustainable Design and Construction and West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy
North East Lincolnshire	A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will be produced to provide developers with advice on considering air quality within the borough.
North Lincolnshire	No specific guidance
North Yorkshire	No specific guidance
Rotherham	Supplementary Planning Document No. 2: Air Quality and Emissions
Sheffield	Sheffield Council’s Sustainability Toolkit
Wakefield	West Yorkshire Air Quality & Emissions Technical Planning Guidance
York	City of York Low Emissions Supplementary Planning Guidance

When might you need an odour assessment in Yorkshire?

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 Yorkshire 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. Yorkshire Water and other utilities 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 Yorkshire. 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

Barnsley Council│ Bradford Council│ Calderdale Council│ Craven District Council│ Doncaster Council│ East Riding of Yorkshire Council│ Hambleton District Council│ Harrogate Borough Council│ Hull City Council│ Kirklees Council│ Leeds City Council│ North East Lincolnshire Council│ North Lincolnshire Council│ Richmondshire District Council│ Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council│ Ryedale District Council│ Scarborough Borough Council│ Selby District Council│ Sheffield City Council│ Wakefield Council│ York City Council│