Air quality requirements

An Air Quality Assessment is required for any development that generates 60+ vehicle movements in any hour within 200m of an area exceeding Air Quality Limitation Values. It is also required where sensitive uses, such as housing or schools, are being introduced to or within 200m of the area. Significant industrial polluters may also require an Assessment.

Information required

An Air Quality Assessment should demonstrate that the proposed development will not cause critical additional harm to air quality or subject sensitive uses to harmful air quality.

It should also include proposed mitigation measures.

Background to air quality issues in Sheffield

The pollutants in Sheffield we are mainly concerned about are:

• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)

They come from burning diesel and also petrol, gas, wood and coal. Other pollutants of less concern include Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Lead (Pb) and 1,3-Butadiene.

The Sheffield Sustainability Toolkit provides background information on the local planning policy context, the Air Quality Management Area designation, design considerations and useful links.