Air quality assessments for residential developments will include a site suitability study. This will assess whether the site has low levels of pollution and assess whether the site is suitable for housing. If traffic will be generated by the development, we can look at the traffic impact. This check whether the traffic generated by the development will have an impact on the air quality of the area.
We can also undertake air quality neutral assessments to check whether a development in London adheres to Section 9 of the London Plan. For developments close to European designated nature sites, we can conduct Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).
Odour assessments are often required in urban town centre locations. This is especially true where new residential development is proposed close to restaurants and takeaways. We are qualified to conduct odour assessments to assess whether odours from adjacent land uses such as fast-food restaurants, are expected to cause complaints from future residents.
We can model odour using air quality assessment modelling software, to check whether new buildings have an impact on how odour is perceived in the environment through changes in dispersion.
At Hawkins Environmental we offer a range of services concerning dust. For most planning applications, a construction dust risk assessment is required as part of an air quality assessment. This is to check whether the development of the site would have an impact on pollution during construction. We often write Dust Management Plans for the construction phase of a development.
As well as considering construction dust in the air quality assessment, we can consider where the proposed development is to be affected by operational dust. For example, as air quality consultants, we can carry out dust monitoring to check whether dust from sites like quarries, will affect proposed development sites and assess whether they will be suitable for housing.
If your planning application involves new dwellings, added traffic, or is located in a sensitive area, an air quality assessment may be required. We provide expert reports including dispersion modelling, dust and odour assessments, and full compliance with Defra, IAQM, and London Plan requirements.
An air quality assessment is used to address the impact of the development on air pollution. Air quality assessment consultants can evaluate both the construction phase and operational impacts. For example, assessments consider traffic-related pollution and emissions from onsite plant such as gas boilers, biomass, and CHP systems. These reports measure onsite air pollution concentrations and determine compliance with national standards.
Air quality assessments also help identify whether the location is suitable for residential use or if mitigation, such as mechanical ventilation, is necessary. Engaging an experienced air quality assessment consultant ensures accurate analysis and supports successful planning applications.
Developments of any size will need an air pollution report. Councils are will ask for a report for any residential development in area where there is poor air quality. Similarly, any development that will generate any traffic or have any polluting plant will need an air quality report, especially if it located within, or close to, air area where air pollution is high. All developments in London need to be air quality neutral. Almost all developments in London will need at least a basic air quality assessment.
As specialist Air Quality Consultants, we can offer a range of air quality assessments and air pollution reports, including:
All of our assessments are been undertaken according to Defra’s current Technical Guidance on Local Air Quality Management (TG22) and the IAQM’s Land-Use Planning & Development Control: Planning for Air Quality (January 2017). Construction impacts on air quality are assessed according to the IAQM’s 2024 edition of the Guidance on the assessment of dust from demolition and construction.
Our assessments consider the legal limits of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), as well as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Although not normally a problem in the UK, we can also assess concentrations of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and benzene.
The main stages are:
Most air quality assessments are desk based studies and don’t need air quality monitoring. If required, we are can conduct nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube monitoring, as well as dust monitoring via deposition gauges and automatic monitoring stations. These can give real-time feedback on air pollution levels. This is especially useful for construction dust monitoring.
The legal limits are as follows:
