All major development in Greater London must demonstrate air quality neutrality under London Plan Policy SI1. Viridian Air prepares Air Quality Neutral Statements covering building and transport emission benchmarks, assessed against current GLA thresholds for NOx and PM2.5.
Under London Plan Policy SI1, all major development in Greater London must be air quality neutral — meaning it must not worsen local air quality relative to the existing land use. Developers must demonstrate this by comparing predicted building and transport emissions against GLA benchmark values for NOx and PM2.5. The assessment applies to two components: building emissions (from boilers, combined heat and power plant and other combustion sources) and transport emissions (from vehicle trips generated by the development). Where either component fails a benchmark, the development must incorporate measures to achieve neutrality.
Going beyond neutral. An air quality positive assessment demonstrates a net improvement to local air quality. While not a mandatory requirement, air quality positive status is increasingly sought by London boroughs as a material planning consideration for major schemes in Air Quality Focus Areas. We can advise on whether an air quality positive approach is worth pursuing for your scheme.
We calculate annual NOx and PM2.5 emissions from all proposed combustion sources (space heating, hot water, CHP, backup generators) and compare these against the GLA's per-unit or per-floor-area benchmarks for your development type. Where benchmarks are exceeded, we advise on low-emission heating specification.
Using the development's Transport Assessment or trip generation data, we calculate NOx and PM2.5 emissions from the vehicle fleet associated with the development and compare against the GLA transport benchmark values. Electric vehicle charging provision and mode shift are taken into account.
Where neutrality cannot be demonstrated through design alone, we identify appropriate mitigation measures or, where permitted, off-site offsetting contributions in consultation with the relevant London borough.
We prepare a clear, structured Air Quality Neutral Statement in the format required by the GLA and the London borough, ready for inclusion in the planning application submission.
Full impact assessments for residential, commercial and industrial planning applications UK-wide.
Bespoke mitigation strategies for construction and operational phases.
IAQM-compliant AQDRA for all phases of demolition and construction.
Tell us about your scheme and we will confirm requirements and provide a fixed-fee quotation within 24 hours.
Specialist air quality consultants for planning applications and workplace compliance across the UK. From initial scoping to submission-ready reports, we work closely with clients and local authorities to ensure a fast, smooth approval process.
