Air Quality Neutral & Positive Assessments
Demonstrate That Your Development Meets or Exceeds Air Quality Policy Standards
Air Quality Neutral and Positive Assessments evaluate whether your proposed development introduces additional air pollution — and if so, how much. These assessments are increasingly required by planning authorities, especially in major cities like London, to show that new developments either do not worsen local air quality (neutral) or actively improve it (positive).
Using emissions calculations for transport and building energy use, this service determines if your scheme complies with policies such as the London Plan, GLA guidance, and local air quality strategies. If exceedances are identified, we provide practical, achievable mitigation strategies to bring the scheme in line.
Why It Matters — and What You Risk Without It
Developments in Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) or subject to London Plan policy must now meet the air quality neutral or positive requirement. Without this assessment, you risk:
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❌ Rejection of planning applications in London boroughs
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⚠️ Requests for redesign or additional mitigation
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📣 Delays from public health objections or GLA referral
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🧾 Inability to demonstrate compliance with Environmental Impact requirements
Authorities are under pressure to improve air quality — and your application must prove it won’t contribute to the problem.
What’s Included
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Quantification of NOx and PM emissions from both transport and building energy use
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Comparison against air quality neutral benchmarks (GLA or borough-specific)
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Review of baseline site conditions and proposed scheme design
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Mitigation strategies if emissions exceed acceptable levels
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Compliant, submission-ready report tailored for planning use
How It Works
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You provide floor areas, transport data, energy strategy and site layout
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We calculate expected pollutant emissions using GLA toolkits or DEFRA factors
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Results are compared to neutral thresholds
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If necessary, we recommend on-site or off-site mitigation to achieve neutrality or positivity
Who It’s For
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🏢 London-based developments subject to GLA planning
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🏙️ Urban schemes in areas with strict air quality policy
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🧱 Projects required to discharge air quality conditions
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🏛️ Consultants preparing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
What You Get
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📊 Benchmark-compliant air quality neutral or positive assessment
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📄 Council and GLA-ready report with full emissions calculations
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🧠 Advice on achievable mitigation measures
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✅ Increased chance of planning approval in sensitive areas
Meet Today’s Planning Expectations — and Prove You’re Part of the Solution
Authorities are no longer satisfied with “minimal impact” — they expect neutrality or better. This service helps you meet those expectations with clarity, credibility, and confidence.
