Local Requirements - Air Quality Assessment

Prior to submission, all planning applications which create new or additional vehicle trips/parking should be screened against the West Yorkshire Air Quality and Emissions Technical Planning Guidance (PDF) (WYLES planning guidance) to determine if they are ‘minor’, ‘medium’ or ‘major’ for air quality purposes.  

The planning application should include full justification of the classification taking into account the size of the development and expected traffic generation figures (where appropriate). Classification screening is required to ensure the level of air quality impact assessment and associated mitigation requirements are proportionate to the size, type and location of a development.

Types of application or development that require full Air Quality Impact Assessment and Damage Cost Calculation

Only developments classified as ‘major’ in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF) usually require a full Air Quality Impact Assessment and Damage Cost Calculation:

  • Major developments where an EIA is required and includes air quality and/or transport as a specific likely impact.
  • Major developments likely to increase traffic flows by more than 5% on roads with >10,000 AADT or change average speeds by > 10 km/hr – likely to cause increased congestion and/or diversion of traffic to other areas
  • Major developments where a transport assessment is required and HGV movements are =/> 10% of total trips
  • Major highway infrastructure changes that will add, remove or replace major junctions, roundabouts, traffic lanes, cycle lanes, bus lanes etc. and/or cause long term diversion of traffic into other areas
  • Applications likely to give rise to significant point source emissions to air, for example biomass boilers, Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR), Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and any other installations that involve combustion or other activity likely to give rise to significant quantities of NOx and/or particulate matter for example crematoria, pyrolysis plants etc.
  • Applications likely to give rise to significant fugitive emissions of particulate matter for example quarrying, stone preparation, large scale earth movement /excavation etc.
  • Applications where significant demolition and construction works are proposed.

What information is required?

Air Quality Impact Assessments examine the expected change in air quality at existing relevant receptor points* as a result of the proposed development.  This helps to determine if a development can proceed without detrimental impact on the health of the local population, is compatible with local air quality improvement plans and supports compliance with air quality objectives and standards.  The scope of the Air Quality Impact Assessment will depend upon the location, size and nature of the development, its proximity to existing relevant receptor points* and the level of air quality information already available for the locality. Guidance on how to undertake an air quality impact assessment is provided within the WYLES planning guidance (PDF) note but the exact content and methodology should always be agreed with the Bradford Clean Air team prior to it being undertaken.

Damage Cost Calculations place a monetary value on the cost to society of the additional emissions likely to arise from a development proposal.  This is used as a guide to ensure that the level of emission mitigation required on a development is proportional to the size of its emission impact. Detailed guidance on the undertaking of damage cost calculations is available here Air quality damage cost guidance.

Air quality impact assessments/damage cost calculations may occasionally be required for other development circumstances.  Applicants are advised to check the air quality impact and damage cost requirements with the Clean Air Plan team prior to submission of a planning application.

Types of application that require emission mitigation

Type 1 emission mitigation

All developments classified as “minor”, “medium” and “major” in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF) are required to provide type 1 emission mitigation as follows:

  1. Electric Vehicle recharging facilities

All developments that will give rise to new or additional parking provision are required to provide EV charging provision. Minimum national EV standards for EV charging have been set for certain types of development. National EV charging requirements (PDF).  In some cases, additional EV charging may be required at the rates set out in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF).

The exact type and number of charging points will be subject to agreement with the Council and will depend on the number of parking spaces and the likely dwell time of the end users at the site. All charging points must be purpose built units with Mode 3 capability.  Mode 1 and Mode 2 charging solutions will not normally be accepted.

The proposed number of EV charging points and their proposed location should be shown on the Site Plan. Full details of the charging point specification (power output, socket type etc) should also be submitted.

Applications without EV charging proposals may be subject to EV charging conditions should they be approved. 

  1. Construction Dust Management

All developments giving rise to significant construction and /or demolition will be required to undertake a dust management risk assessment and prepare a dust management plan (to be approved by the council) in accordance with the IAQM assessment of demolition and construction dust guidance (PDF) (unless they fall below the thresholds for assessment in this document).  Sites falling below the dust assessment thresholds will still be required to apply best practice measures to minimise dust emissions during construction and demolition.  It is recommended that all applications are screened against the IAQM guidance prior to validation and a dust risk assessment undertaken prior to submission if appropriate. Site specific dust management plans should also be submitted with the planning application where possible but details can be subject to pre-commencement conditions once contractors have been appointed.

Type 2 emission mitigation

All developments classified as “medium” and “major” in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF) are also required to provide additional emission mitigation in the form of a Low Emission Travel Plan.  This must include specific measures to encourage the uptake and use of low emission vehicles as well as walking, cycling and public transport measures. Further guidance on the preparation of Low Emission Travel Plans is available in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF).  Where required Low Emission Travel Plans should be provided with the application.

Type 3 emission mitigation

Some developments classified as “major” in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF) are required to provide additional site specific emission mitigation measures which are expected to be proportional to the damage costs calculated for the development.  Further guidance on how to develop a suitable emission mitigation strategy for a site, including examples of possible mitigation measures can be found in the WYLES planning guidance (PDF). Where no suitable site specific emission mitigation measures can be found a proportionate financial contribution to wider off site low emission mitigation measures may be sought.  Applicants are advised to include details of all proposed emission mitigation measures within the planning application.   In some complex cases it may be appropriate for a more detailed low emission strategy to be conditioned for submission after the development decision.

Further information

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