Air Quality and Land Use PlanningAir Quality and Land Use Planning

Land Use ConsultantsLand Use Consultants1111thth March 2008 March 2008

Susanne UnderwoodSusanne Underwood

OverviewOverview

Study aims and objectivesStudy aims and objectives

Method and FindingsMethod and Findings

Conclusions Conclusions

RecommendationsRecommendations

Study aims and objectivesStudy aims and objectives

AimAim to undertake research to inform SEPA planning staff to undertake research to inform SEPA planning staff

and local air quality specialists about how best to and local air quality specialists about how best to achieve SEPA’s outcomes for air quality through the achieve SEPA’s outcomes for air quality through the planning systemplanning system

ObjectivesObjectives to research the interface between land use planning to research the interface between land use planning

and the protection and improvement of air qualityand the protection and improvement of air quality to assess the impact and effectiveness of planning to assess the impact and effectiveness of planning

decisions and policy on air qualitydecisions and policy on air quality

Air Quality and PlanningAir Quality and Planning Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 1 Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 1 The The

Planning System Planning System (2002) (2002) sets out role of integrated and sustainable transport to sets out role of integrated and sustainable transport to

help improve air quality, address climate change and help improve air quality, address climate change and protect environmental resources from the damage protect environmental resources from the damage caused by pollution caused by pollution

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 17 Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 17 Planning Planning for Transportfor Transport (2005) (2005) promotes an integrated approach to land use planning, promotes an integrated approach to land use planning,

economic development, transport and the environment, economic development, transport and the environment, in order to meet Government commitments and targets in order to meet Government commitments and targets on greenhouse gases and local air quality on greenhouse gases and local air quality

Air Quality and PlanningAir Quality and Planning

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 51 Planning Advice Note (PAN) 51 Planning, Planning, Environmental Protection and RegulationEnvironmental Protection and Regulation (Revised 2006)(Revised 2006) provides detailed advice on the role of the provides detailed advice on the role of the

planning system in relation to air quality issuesplanning system in relation to air quality issues sets out SEPA’s role as a statutory consultee on sets out SEPA’s role as a statutory consultee on

Local Air Quality ManagementLocal Air Quality Management

Method and ApproachMethod and Approach

Main stages: Main stages: 1.1. Review of all structure and local plans in Review of all structure and local plans in

Scotland adopted since 2001 for references to Scotland adopted since 2001 for references to air qualityair quality

2.2. Review a sample of English structure and local Review a sample of English structure and local plans adopted since 2001 in local authorities plans adopted since 2001 in local authorities with AQMA for references to air qualitywith AQMA for references to air quality

3.3. Review of Supplementary Planning Guidance on Review of Supplementary Planning Guidance on air qualityair quality

Method and ApproachMethod and Approach

4.4.Review of planning appeals in Scotland, Review of planning appeals in Scotland, England and Wales where air quality was England and Wales where air quality was an issuean issue

5.5.Review of a sample of development Review of a sample of development control decisionscontrol decisions

6.6.Consultation with planning officers and Consultation with planning officers and environmental health officers, Scottish environmental health officers, Scottish Executive, and the Environment AgencyExecutive, and the Environment Agency

Development Plan reviewDevelopment Plan reviewFindingsFindings

Approaches to air quality policy vary Approaches to air quality policy vary Structure plans are not typically providing clear Structure plans are not typically providing clear

framework for local plans framework for local plans Even where the Structure Plan provided a Even where the Structure Plan provided a

framework generally poor coverage of air quality framework generally poor coverage of air quality issues in Scottish local plans issues in Scottish local plans

Some plans address air quality in relation to a Some plans address air quality in relation to a wide range of developments, other plans are wide range of developments, other plans are topic specifictopic specific

More recent plans provide more comprehensive More recent plans provide more comprehensive coverage of air quality in plan policiescoverage of air quality in plan policies

Air quality policies often lack qualificationAir quality policies often lack qualification

Supplementary Planning Supplementary Planning GuidanceGuidance

Role and purposeRole and purpose Provides guidance for applicants and plannersProvides guidance for applicants and planners Provides additional detail to plan policiesProvides additional detail to plan policies Raises the profile of air quality issuesRaises the profile of air quality issues Identifies circumstances when an AQA likely to Identifies circumstances when an AQA likely to

be requiredbe required Guidance on conditions and how to use themGuidance on conditions and how to use them Can provide guidance on mitigation and Can provide guidance on mitigation and

cumulative impactscumulative impacts

Review of planning appeals Review of planning appeals and development managementand development management Reviewed appeals where the environmental Reviewed appeals where the environmental

impact on air quality was a significant issueimpact on air quality was a significant issue Reviewed planning applications for Reviewed planning applications for

references to air qualityreferences to air quality Difficult to identify where air quality was an Difficult to identify where air quality was an

issue in planning applications due to issue in planning applications due to inconsistent use of terms relating to air inconsistent use of terms relating to air quality and limited search optionsquality and limited search options

Limited examples of air quality related Limited examples of air quality related conditions or air quality as a determining conditions or air quality as a determining issueissue

ConsultationConsultation

Aims of consultation:Aims of consultation: To identify the mechanisms for triggering To identify the mechanisms for triggering

consideration of air quality issues;consideration of air quality issues; To identify the information or advice each local To identify the information or advice each local

authority uses in relation to air quality issues;authority uses in relation to air quality issues; To identify examples of planning applications To identify examples of planning applications

where air quality issues should have been a where air quality issues should have been a consideration, but weren’t;consideration, but weren’t;

To identify what changes would help ensure To identify what changes would help ensure that air quality was addressed more that air quality was addressed more comprehensively.comprehensively.

Conclusions and Conclusions and RecommendationsRecommendations

ConclusionsConclusions

Relatively low profile of air quality in Relatively low profile of air quality in planningplanning

Inconsistent approach to air quality Inconsistent approach to air quality through development plansthrough development plans

Inconsistent use of terminology Inconsistent use of terminology relating to air quality in development relating to air quality in development managementmanagement

SPG beneficial in informing air quality SPG beneficial in informing air quality in planning, but no examples of SPG in planning, but no examples of SPG in Scotland in Scotland

Joined up approach between local Joined up approach between local authority environmental health authority environmental health officers and planners brings officers and planners brings significant benefits for addressing significant benefits for addressing and understanding air quality issuesand understanding air quality issues

RecommendationsRecommendations

ContextContext SEPA is a consultee on development plans and SEPA is a consultee on development plans and

a statutory consultee for SEAa statutory consultee for SEA Future changes to the planning system – Future changes to the planning system –

strategic development plans and local strategic development plans and local development plansdevelopment plans

Under the new planning act, pre-application Under the new planning act, pre-application discussions will become mandatory for some discussions will become mandatory for some developments – this presents future developments – this presents future opportunities for SEPA involvementopportunities for SEPA involvement

RecommendationsRecommendations

Consultation responses to development plansConsultation responses to development plans Evaluate policy coverage of air quality Evaluate policy coverage of air quality

issues and make recommendations on issues and make recommendations on changeschanges

How significant are air quality issues within this local How significant are air quality issues within this local authority?authority?

Is there a stand alone air quality policy?Is there a stand alone air quality policy? Is air quality covered in other environmental protection Is air quality covered in other environmental protection

policies?policies? Are air quality issues addressed in relation to specific Are air quality issues addressed in relation to specific

development types?development types? Does the policy seek to improve air quality?Does the policy seek to improve air quality?

RecommendationsRecommendations

Air quality policyAir quality policy Statement supporting improvement of local air quality Statement supporting improvement of local air quality Consideration of air quality standards in selecting Consideration of air quality standards in selecting

locations for new development locations for new development Consideration of air quality impacts when assessing Consideration of air quality impacts when assessing

development applications including departures from development applications including departures from the development plan the development plan

Reducing the need to travel Reducing the need to travel Promoting public transport and an integrated Promoting public transport and an integrated

transport systemtransport system Key links to be made with policies on sustainable Key links to be made with policies on sustainable

development, quality of life and environmental justicedevelopment, quality of life and environmental justice

RecommendationsRecommendations

Supplementary Planning GuidanceSupplementary Planning Guidance Identified as beneficial for local Identified as beneficial for local

authorities in providing clarity on when authorities in providing clarity on when to consider air quality issuesto consider air quality issues

SEPA could produce guidance on scope SEPA could produce guidance on scope and content of SPG on air quality to and content of SPG on air quality to encourage more local authorities to encourage more local authorities to develop thisdevelop this

RecommendationsRecommendations

Improved guidance on air quality and planningImproved guidance on air quality and planning Air quality information not always submitted as part Air quality information not always submitted as part

of a planning applicationof a planning application Decision may be made with air quality information Decision may be made with air quality information

outstandingoutstanding Requirement for guidance on air quality related Requirement for guidance on air quality related

conditions for planningconditions for planning Undertake a workshop event with SEPA staff, Undertake a workshop event with SEPA staff,

planners and environmental health officers to planners and environmental health officers to identify ‘model’ conditions to address air quality identify ‘model’ conditions to address air quality considerations in planning applicationsconsiderations in planning applications

RecommendationsRecommendations

Requirement for guidance on Requirement for guidance on addressing cross boundary impacts addressing cross boundary impacts between local authoritiesbetween local authorities

Further research into need and scope Further research into need and scope for air quality modelling at a local for air quality modelling at a local authority scale and to assess authority scale and to assess cumulative impacts of developmentscumulative impacts of developments

RecommendationsRecommendations

Promote and support cross Promote and support cross departmental workingdepartmental working Within local authoritiesWithin local authorities

Workshop eventsWorkshop events At a national levelAt a national level

Promoting integration of air quality issues Promoting integration of air quality issues between government departmentsbetween government departments

RecommendationsRecommendations

Sharing good practice experienceSharing good practice experience Within ScotlandWithin Scotland Within UKWithin UK

Raise the profile of local authorities Raise the profile of local authorities in addressing air quality issues when in addressing air quality issues when responding to development responding to development management consultationsmanagement consultations