Ammonia Assessments in Northern Ireland

Ammonia Assessments in Northern Ireland are a key aspect of managing local air quality, particularly in relation to the potential impact of emissions from agricultural activities on sensitive habitats. An Ammonia Assessment is often required to evaluate the environmental effects of agricultural developments, such as livestock housing, manure or slurry storage facilities, and anaerobic digestion plants.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is responsible for environmental protection and supporting the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) sits within DAERA and works to protect and enhance Northern Ireland’s environment. Currently, atmospheric ammonia concentrations are above levels known to cause environmental damage at 100% of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas in Northern Ireland, and emissions are continuing to rise. For planning applications that have potential air quality impacts on the natural environment, an Ammonia Assessment may be needed to allow DAERA and NIEA to determine the potential risk that agricultural developments pose to protected areas. In Northern Ireland, this can include applications for new livestock developments, as well as replacing, upgrading and extending existing livestock sheds.

Ammonia emissions can arise from sources across agricultural units, from livestock houses, manure and slurry stores, to spreading and grazing activities. Increased ammonia emissions are a concern due to the adverse effects on sensitive habitats. Ammonia can have direct effects such as leaf discolouration, bleaching and changes in species composition of bryophyte and lichen communities. There are also indirect effects as a result of increased nitrogen and acid deposition to the environment, leading to nitrate leaching, soil toxicity, acidification of freshwater systems, and algal blooms. Assessing potential emissions of ammonia is therefore important to limit the potential negative effect on biodiversity of important conservation sites.

Regional Guidance

To support the assessment of potential ecological impacts from atmospheric ammonia emissions arising from agricultural developments, DAERA has published a Revised Operational Protocol as a guide for planners and developers. The original protocol was revised after the Office for Environmental Protection found it to be unlawful in 2024. The new guidance has been produced following a call for evidence to assist DAERA to develop the new approach to address the growing problem of ammonia emissions on protected sites in Northern Ireland.

The revised guidance is largely based on the Decision-Making Threshold (DMT) project commissioned by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The guidance sets out the following key assessment stages to be followed when considering potential impacts from a proposed development:

• Screening to determine the proximity of the proposal to relevant protected ecological designations or priority habitats.
• Quantifying ammonia emissions to which a protected site may be exposed as a result of the development, using methods such as detailed atmospheric dispersion modelling.
• Comparing predicted impacts against first the ‘De-minimis Threshold – DMT’ and then the ‘Site Relevant Threshold – SRT’.
• If proposals exceed the relevant thresholds, an in-combination assessment with other nearby plans and projects must be undertaken.
• If proposals exceed the in-combination threshold, a Detailed Assessment must be undertaken.
• Following completion of the necessary steps, DAERA will consider the findings and issue advice or make a decision on the proposals.

Redmore Environmental has extensive experience in undertaking Ammonia Assessments in line with DAERA’s latest guidance and can provide robust, evidence-based evaluations to support planning and permitting processes. Assessments can be undertaken for a range of livestock applications, from new housing systems for cattle, pigs, poultry and other livestock types required to expand operations and improve animal welfare standards, to installations of new manure and slurry storage systems to improve waste handling activities. These can be undertaken for all scales of development, from small-scale units to intensive agricultural installations.

The in-house expertise that Redmore Environmental offer provides our clients with confidence that assessments will be undertaken to meet their objectives in line with relevant regulatory guidance. Advice tailored to each application can be provided to help identify suitable mitigation solutions, if required.

Assessments in Northern Ireland

The success of your planning and permitting applications could be aided by Redmore Environmental’s comprehensive experience of undertaking assessments for agricultural applications throughout Northern Ireland. You will gain advice on application approaches and discharging conditions to addressing consultation responses. Throughout Northern Ireland we have been involved in several exciting agricultural projects in recent years. These include:

• Aughanduff Road, Mullaghbawn, Armagh – Ammonia Assessment in support of the retention of an agricultural shed and associated underground slurry tank on land off Aughanduff Road, Mullaghbawn, Armagh. A consultation response from the NIEA indicated concerns in relation to potential effects as a result of ammonia emissions associated with the development at sensitive receptors in the surrounding area. An Ammonia Assessment was therefore undertaken to quantify effects in the vicinity of the site. The results were compared with relevant assessment criteria and the significance of potential impacts considered in accordance with DAERA guidance. This indicated that impacts as a result of the development were not significant.
• Orken Lane, Aghalee – Ammonia Assessment in support of the retention of two existing livestock sheds on land off Orken Lane, Aghalee. The assessment was updated to reflect changes to the schemes’ Nutrient Management Plan and updated DAERA guidance. Information relating to the Future Operational Protocol provided to Redmore Environmental during a meeting with the NIEA was also considered throughout the assessment. Dispersion modelling of emissions using ADMS was undertaken to consider ammonia impacts as a result of the development. The results were compared to a derived site relevant threshold and the significance of potential impacts considered in accordance with DAERA guidance. This indicated that impacts as a result of the development were not significant.
• Keady Road, Drumhose – Ammonia Assessment in support of the retention of an agricultural shed and associated underground slurry tank on land off Keady Road, Drumhose. A consultation response from the NIEA indicated concerns relation to potential effects as a result of ammonia emissions associated with the development at sensitive receptors in the surrounding area. An Ammonia Assessment was therefore undertaken to quantify effects in the vicinity of the site. The results were compared to a derived site relevant threshold and the significance of potential impacts considered in accordance with DAERA guidance. This indicated that impacts as a result of the development were not significant.

How can we help you?

Redmore Environmental has extensive experience in preparing Ammonia Assessments, as well as wider Ecological Air Quality Assessments, to support a diverse range of agricultural developments across Northern Ireland, from small-scale farms to intensive livestock operations. Our work has included direct consultation with DAERA and NIEA in relation to specific planning and environmental permit applications.

Ammonia is just one of several pollutants of concern associated with agricultural activities. Other potential issues include odour, dust, bioaerosols, and emissions from on-farm combustion processes, all of which can impact the health and amenity of nearby communities. Redmore Environmental offers comprehensive assessment services covering all relevant pollutants, ensuring that your application is fully supported by robust evidence.

To discuss your project or learn more about how we can assist with ammonia assessments or related air quality issues, contact one of our specialist Air Quality Consultants today.