The Big Yellow, Leamington Spa Development

Our client appointed us to support the demolition of a supermarket to make way for a new self storage facility, along with landscaping, parking, and service areas. We conducted an air quality assessment to evaluate the potential air quality impacts during both the construction and operational development phases. 

Challenge

The application site was situated 800 metres southwest of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) designated by Warwick District Council. AQMAs are areas with relevant exposure that do not meet national air quality objectives, and are typically declared due to elevated concentrations of one or more of the following pollutants:

• Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
• Fine particulate matter (PM₁₀)

The AQMA we considered was declared for exceedances of annual average concentrations of NO₂. It was therefore essential to assess and evaluate the potential air quality impacts on both nearby receptors and the surrounding environment, including the AQMA. 

Solution

We reviewed the predicted increase in light-duty vehicles (LDVs) and heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) associated with the proposed development, which fell below the threshold criteria outlined in the ‘Land-Use Planning & Development Control: Planning For Air Quality’ document by Environmental Protection UK (now known as the Environmental Policy Implementation Community) and the Institute of Air Quality Management.

We performed a qualitative assessment after scoping out the requirement for a detailed modelling assessment, and our report to the client included:

• A risk assessment of dust emissions during demolition and construction phases
• Determination of the development classification as ‘medium’, in accordance with Warwick District Council’s Air Quality & Planning Supplementary Planning Document 
• Recommendations for dust mitigation measures 
• A review of the baseline concentrations of pollutants in the area

Our assessment, which followed both national and local air quality and planning guidance, concluded that the residual air quality effects associated with the proposed development were ‘not significant’, and enabled our client to successfully progress their plans for the site.