FAQ

Air quality matters because it has a direct and measurable impact on human health, the environment, and the long‑term sustainability of our communities. While much public attention focuses on climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), poor air quality remains one of the most significant environmental risks to public health in the UK and worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), outdoor air pollution contributes to around 4.2 million premature deaths globally every year. Exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) is linked to serious health issues including respiratory disease, cardiovascular illness, stroke and lung cancer. Improving local air quality can therefore deliver major public health benefits, such as reducing illness, improving quality of life, and easing pressure on healthcare services.

Actions that improve air quality often support wider climate change goals. Measures such as reducing vehicle emissions, promoting sustainable transport, improving energy efficiency, and adopting low‑emission technologies can cut both harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. This means that tackling air pollution not only protects public health but also contributes to healthier, more resilient and more sustainable communities.

An Air Quality Assessment is a detailed technical report that examines how a proposed development may impact local air quality — and how existing air pollution levels could affect future occupants. The assessment models pollutant concentrations and compares them against UK Air Quality Objectives to determine potential risks.

Air Quality Assessments are not only about demonstrating compliance with national, regional, and local planning policies. They play a crucial role in shaping better developments by informing early design decisions, identifying potential constraints, and helping to mitigate air quality impacts before they become costly planning issues.

If you’d like to understand what’s involved or need support for a planning application, explore our full range of Air Quality Services.

Common triggers for an Air Quality Assessment include the following:

• Developments near busy roads or major junctions
• Sites within or near an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)
• Schemes generating significant traffic once operational
• Projects affecting traffic flow or congestion
• Sensitive uses (e.g., housing, schools) near pollution sources

An air quality neutral assessment is a desk top study used to determine whether a proposed development will meet air quality neutrality requirements, meaning it will not introduce additional emissions beyond defined benchmark levels.

An air quality neutral assessment is typically required where:

• A development is located within London or another authority with air quality neutrality policies
• The proposal exceeds defined size thresholds (e.g. residential units or commercial floor area)
• The local planning authority specifically requests it as part of the application process

For applications in London, a development must be shown to be air quality neutral to comply with Policy SI 1 “Improving Air Quality” of the London Plan.

New regulations came into force in England on 30 May 2013, introducing additional permitted development rights that allow landowners to undertake certain works and changes of use without the need to obtain planning permission.

Although permitted development rights allow certain works and changes of use to proceed without the need for planning permission, they do not remove the requirement to consider environmental impacts where relevant. An Air Quality Assessment may still be required where a development has the potential to affect local air quality, such as through increased traffic generation or the exposure of future occupants to existing sources of air pollution. In some cases, an assessment may also be needed to satisfy prior approval requirements, support environmental permitting applications, or demonstrate compliance with local planning and environmental policies.

Typically, the following information is required to complete an Air Quality Assessment:

• Planning application reference number (if available). Some of the information listed below may be accessible through the Council's planning portal.
• A brief description of the proposed development.
• Site location plan, together with the site address and postcode.
• The decision notice and/or any correspondence from the Council outlining the required scope of the Air Quality Assessment (AQA).
• Existing and proposed development drawings in PDF format
• Copies of any Transport Assessment, Transport Statement, and/or Travel Plan, where available.

Construction and demolition activities can have a significant impact on local air quality, potentially affecting nearby residents, businesses, and sensitive receptors such as schools, hospitals, and care homes. Common sources of emissions include dust generated from demolition, earthworks, construction activities, material handling, and vehicle movements. These emissions can create nuisance issues, such as dust soiling and reduced amenity, as well as potential health impacts associated with exposure to airborne particulate matter.

While construction-related emissions are generally temporary, their effects can be considerable if not properly managed. Local planning authorities increasingly require developers to demonstrate how dust and air quality impacts will be controlled throughout the construction phase. An Air Quality and Dust Risk Assessment (AQDRA) provides a structured evaluation of the potential impacts arising from a development and identifies appropriate mitigation measures to minimise emissions and protect nearby receptors.

The assessment typically considers the nature and scale of the proposed works, the sensitivity of the surrounding area, local environmental conditions, and the proximity of residential properties and other sensitive land uses. It identifies the key sources of dust and particulate matter and recommends practical control measures, such as dust suppression, wheel washing facilities, site management procedures, and monitoring programmes, to ensure impacts remain within acceptable levels.

For larger developments or projects with extended construction programmes, consideration must also be given to emissions associated with construction traffic. Major schemes can generate substantial numbers of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) movements, construction worker trips, and deliveries, which may increase traffic-related air pollution along local roads and access routes. Where construction traffic is expected to result in a significant increase in vehicle flows, particularly near residential areas or other sensitive receptors, a more detailed assessment of vehicle emissions may be required.