Background
Anderson Acoustics was commissioned by GPM2 Design Ltd to undertake an Emissions Mitigation Assessment (EMA) and produce an Emissions Mitigation Statement for the discharge of planning condition 7 of decision notice F/TH/20/0714 for Thanet District Council (TDC).
The scheme involves the erection of a 120-bed hotel and ancillary facilities including a restaurant, new stands, studio spaces, cafe, club shop, club offices and car parking.
Planning condition 7 stated: “Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, an Emissions Mitigation Assessment in accordance with Thanet District Council’s Air Quality Technical Planning Guidance shall be submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Emissions Mitigation Assessment shall include a damage cost assessment that uses the DEFRA emissions factor toolkit and should include details of mitigation to be included in the development which will reduce the emissions from the development during construction and when in operation.”
What we did
We produced an EMA which covered both the construction and operational phases of the proposed development and in accordance with the planning condition, Kent & Medway Air Quality Partnership guidance and IAQM guidance on dust risk.
Operational Mitigation
The Kent & Medway air quality planning guidance does not give a procedure for buildings emissions mitigation assessment. If ultra low NOx boilers, electric boilers or other zero or low emission technologies are used for the hotel and north stand building we advised the emissions are considered as mitigated.
Other mitigation measures were proposed including:-
- Travel plan (where required) including mechanisms for discouraging high emission vehicle use and encouraging the uptake of low emission fuels and technologies
- EV recharging infrastructure
- Use of ultra low emission service vehicles
- Public transport subsidy for employees
- Improved cycle paths to link cycle network
- Adequate provision of secure cycle storage
- Using green infrastructure, in particular trees to absorb dust and other pollutants
Construction Dust and Emissions Statement
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 with this site.
Based on the dust risk assessment we then proposed site specific dust and air quality control mitigation measures related to-
- Site management and monitoring
- Preparing and maintaining the site
- Operating vehicle/machinery
- Operations
- Waste Management
- Demolition
- Earthworks
- Construction
- Trackout
Conclusion
The emissions migration assessment indicated the development was compliant with TDC policy and air quality emissions requirements.
The construction dust risk assessment indicated the site was Low Risk for dust soiling and for human health effects. Mitigation measures to minimise dust and air pollutant emissions were proposed to meet IAQM and Kent & Medway guidance recommended measures.
Project Progress
Permission was granted in October 2023 and can be viewed under Planning Application CON/TH/23/1320 which now allows the project to move forward.
