Background
Anderson Acoustics was commissioned by Urban Planning Practice to produce a planning stage air quality statement to inform the design and determination of the planning application for the change of use from a hotel to a girl’s secondary school.
The proposed development site is The Central Hotel, located at 35 Hoop Lane and 1 Wentworth Road, London NW11 8BS, within the London Borough of Barnet (LBB) local authority area.
The change of use to a Secondary School will involve the use of the buildings by around 100 pupils, with associated teaching and support staff.
What we did
Assessment of the potential effects of existing air quality on future occupants was achieved by assessing the location of the development against modelled NO2 and PM10 concentrations in the context of the air quality objectives and limit values.
The effect of the proposed development on the environment was assessed by screening the building and transport emissions against criteria, and for further assessment, if the criteria are exceeded.
An air quality neutral and air quality positive assessment and a dust risk assessment have been conducted to demonstrate compliance of the development with the ‘air quality neutral’ requirement of Policy 7.14 of the previous London Plan and ‘air quality positive’ requirements of policy SI1 of New London Plan, and the Mayor’s Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction and Control of Dust and Emissions During Construction and Demolition.
We proposed relevant mitigation measures.
Air Quality Assessment
We considered the impact of the development on the local area, along with the impact of existing sources of pollution in the local area on the proposed development. We concluded that the proposed development did not meet the criteria (within the Land-use Planning & Development Control: Planning for Air Quality15 guidance) for the need to assess the impact of the development on air quality in the local area for the change in traffic flows as the proposal did not include parking spaces. Therefore, we undertook a “Simple” assessment of the impact of the existing sources of pollution, on the pupils and staff.
Dust Risk Assessment
The purpose of this assessment was to identify the category of risk from dust emissions associated with the demolition, earthworks, construction and track out phases, and to put in place a suitable management and mitigation strategy to ensure negative impacts and adverse effects are controlled and reduced. Dust from demolition and construction processes contains a range of particle types and material sizes that can cause adverse effects.
The first step of the assessment was to conduct screening to establish if there was need to proceed to detailed assessment. A dust risk assessment usually proceeds to detailed assessment if there is a human receptor within 50 m of the boundary of the site as was the case for this site so we undertook a detailed dust risk assessment and provided dust and air quality mitigation measures accordingly.
Air Quality Neutral and Positive Assessment
The purpose of the air quality neutral and air quality positive assessment was to demonstrate that the proposed development is compliant with the air quality neutral policy of not exceeding the transport and building emissions minimum benchmarks and that it met the aims of the air quality positive policy of improving air quality.
There are no parking spaces associated with the proposed development and as such this is below the parking standard maximum for the development. We concluded therefore that the the site could be considered as better than ‘air quality neutral’ for transport emissions. The development can also be considered as ‘air quality positive’ as through having no parking spaces, the proposal encourages sustainable transport and includes secure cycle storage for students and staff.
The development is powered by electricity from the national grid, with the hot water provided by air source or other heat pumps and electric heaters and boilers. There would also be a reduction in energy use from the change of use from a hotel use to a school. Accordingly, the proposed development is considered as ‘air quality neutral’ and ‘air quality positive’ for building emissions.
Conclusion
Our assessments demonstrated the site and proposals are suitable for the proposed school use and air quality policy compliant.
Air quality mitigation measures include no parking spaces, green infrastructure, cycle storage and use of air source or other heat pumps and electrical boilers partly for space and water heating.
Project Progress
Planning is under consideration with Barnet Council and can be tracked under 23/2757/FUL
Environmental Health confirmed on 8th November 2024 that our Air Quality report meant this requirement had been met and as such no condition related to Air Quality was required.
