Background
WorkByHere appointed Anderson Acoustics to prepare a Low Emission Strategy for Parrs Yard on Old Bath Road, London. The site is planned as a 24-hour airport park-and-ride facility, providing up to 200 managed parking spaces and a shuttle service to Heathrow Terminal 5.
The strategy was required to discharge a planning condition associated with the development. Its purpose was to set out how air pollution emissions would be reduced and demonstrate alignment with the London Borough of Hillingdon Air Quality Action Plan.
Challenge
The site lies within an Air Quality Management Area, where nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter are pollutants of concern. Although the supporting assessment found that the development’s predicted air quality effects would be negligible and not significant, a clear and enforceable strategy was needed to maintain compliance and secure further reductions in local emissions.
The planning condition required measures covering electric vehicle charging, cleaner vehicle standards, emissions-based parking charges and anti-idling controls. Each measure also needed defined actions, delivery timescales, responsible roles and tangible methods of monitoring performance.
What we did
We prepared a Low Emission Strategy and Delivery Plan that translated the planning requirements into practical operational commitments.
Our recommendations included:
- Active EV charging for at least 20% of the parking spaces, equivalent to 40 bays, with passive infrastructure provided across the remaining spaces to support future expansion;
- A minimum Euro VI standard for shuttle buses, including temporary and replacement vehicles;
- An emissions-based parking tariff, providing the lowest charge for zero-emission vehicles and applying a higher tariff to older, higher-emitting vehicles;
- A formal anti-idling policy, supported by signage, staff training, observational checks and recorded corrective actions;
- Regular reviews of the commercial and operational feasibility of moving to zero-emission shuttle buses;
- A monitoring framework covering charger use, vehicle emission bands, fleet compliance, idling observations and air quality-related complaints.
We also prepared a structured Delivery Plan assigning each action to a responsible role, setting implementation timescales and identifying the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.
Result
The completed strategy provided WorkByHere with a clear route to address the planning condition and manage emissions throughout the development’s operation. It established specific pre-opening requirements alongside monthly monitoring, annual performance reviews and periodic assessments of zero-emission shuttle technology.
By combining infrastructure, fleet standards, pricing measures and day-to-day operational controls, the strategy created a practical framework for maintaining compliance and supporting continued reductions in transport-related emissions over the lifetime of the development.
Project progress
The Council of the London Borough of Hillingdon granted planning permission on 5th December 2025. The Low Emission Strategy and Delivery Plan are now being implemented ahead of the site opening, with the pre-opening requirements to be evidenced to the Council before operation begins.
