Mitigating air quality impacts
Download our free guidance document to help you choose an appropriate air quality mitigation solution for your development.
Air quality
Air pollution can be a critical consideration for development projects. Changes in air quality, dust and odour levels can have a significant impact on the health of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
We are experienced in meeting and mitigating these challenges and our experts can help our clients to find ways to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements at the lowest possible cost.
Providing workable solutions to complex issues
We evaluate the impacts of new developments on the surrounding environment and site suitability and advise on the options for balanced mitigation.
We identify significant compliance concerns and integrate the fundamental technical and regulatory aspects of facility operations into business decision making.
Our approach is based on upfront consultation with the local planning and permitting authority and regulators, using best practice methods of assessment and robust responses to any post-submission queries. This means our clients benefit from enhanced prospects for obtaining planning permission and other consents.
Our expertise
Consultancy
- Assessments for planning applications
- Permitting strategy
- Local, state and/or federal permitting
- Compliance management assistance
- Rule applicability determinations
- Independent peer review
- Provision of expert witness evidence at public inquiries and other proceedings
- Negotiation of Section 106 agreements for air quality, dust and odour
- Consultation with regulatory technical specialists
Modelling
- Screening models, and advanced atmospheric dispersion models such as ADMS and AERMOD
- Stack height determinations
- Human health risk and population exposure assessments
- Critical load/level modelling for sensitive ecosystems
Monitoring
- Design of monitoring strategies and protocols – members of our team have written official published monitoring guidance for the Environment Agency and Defra
- Baseline and post-development ambient monitoring surveys
- Monitoring of the full range of particulate and gaseous pollutants using automatic, manual and passive (e.g. diffusion tube) techniques
- Monitoring of odour impacts by sensory surveys, olfactometry, analysers, odour diaries and complaints analysis
- Monitoring of PM10 and nuisance dust as deposition or soiling rate, flux and chemical analysis
Environment Act Particulate Matter targets: Interim planning guidance
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued crucial interim planning guidance on PM2.5 targets under the Environment Act. This guidance helps developers align their projects with updated air quality standards, enhancing public health and air quality across England.
Our air quality expert, Dr. Steven Lees, shares insights on:
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The significance and sources of PM2.5
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New PM2.5 emission targets and their implications for developers
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Integrating air quality considerations into project design
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The value of collaborating with air quality specialists and consultants
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Mitigation guidance