Air Quality Assessments in Dundee

Development in Dundee

The city of Dundee is located on the Firth of Tay Estuary in Eastern Scotland and is home to approximately 148,000 people.

The city has recently invested in the £1.6 billion redevelopment of Dundee’s Waterfront captured above by Richard Szwejkowski/ cc-by-sa-2.0, covering 240 hectares land stretching 8km along the River Tay. The redevelopment is anticipated to run up until 2031 and represents the third largest regeneration project within the UK.

Nine projects have already been completed under the development, which includes the new railway station and Waterfront Place. Four projects are currently being constructed, including a £26 million development known as James Thomson House that will provide 51,600m² office accommodation by 2025. Whilst a further 5 plots are available for future development opportunities.

Given that poor air quality is now the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, it is essential that the effect from such soaring growth is managed effectively. Air Quality Assessments in Dundee are a crucial part of the development process to enable a sustainable and clean air future for local residents.

Air Quality in Dundee

In 2006 Dundee City Council declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) covering the whole of the city. The designation was made due to exceedences of the Scottish Air Quality Objective (AQO) for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). In 2010, annual mean concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10μm (PM₁₀) was included followed by 1-hour mean NO₂ in 2013.

The Dundee Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was introduced on 30^th May 2022 to improve air quality in locations where the Scottish AQO for NO₂ was being exceeded. This covers the area within the A991 Inner Ring Road, excluding the Bell Street, West Marketgait and Wellgate car parks. Following a two-year grace period, the LEZ was enforced on 30^th May 2024 with the aim to contribute to greenhouse gas emissions targets as well as making the city a desirable place to live.

It is crucial that developments continue to support an improvement in air quality. This should be managed through sound determination and effective mitigation of air quality impacts associated with proposals. This is why Air Quality Assessments in Dundee are needed.

Air Quality Assessments for Planning

Air Quality Assessments in Dundee are typically a requirement for nearly all planning applications for new developments. Typically, these comprise assessment of three main elements. These are:

• Potential exposure of future occupiers to harmful pollution levels.
• The impact of emissions from vehicles travelling to and from the scheme.
• The impact of dust emissions generated during construction.

Addressing these as part of your application could be the deciding factor for its success or refusal.

Air Quality Assessments in Dundee

Success of your planning application could be aided by Redmore Environmental’s 20 years of experience undertaking Air Quality Assessments in Dundee. You will gain advice on planning applications and discharging conditions to addressing consultation responses and public comments. We have produced Air Quality Assessments in Dundee for residential and mixed-use schemes. Last year alone, over 500 assessments were completed in support of developments similar to yours.

Across Dundee, we have been involved in a number of exciting projects in recent years. These include:

• Dundee Waterfront – Air Quality Assessment in support of a mixed-use development known as Dundee Waterfront Site 6 consisting of office space, a hotel and residential units. The assessment included analysis of pollution levels to determine potential risk to future occupants, as well as consideration of impacts associated with construction dust and vehicle exhaust emissions.
• Trades Lane, Dundee – Air Quality Assessment in support of a seven storey building to provide ground floor retail units and 28 residential apartments above. Included consideration of potential exposure of future occupants to high pollution levels through dispersion modelling and impacts associated with vehicle movements and construction dust emissions generated by the site.
• Customs House, Dundee – Air Quality Assessment in support of a residential development at Customs House, Dundee. The proposals included the conversion and extension of the existing Customs House and construction of two four storey blocks to provide 49 residential apartments. Included assessment of potential exposure of future residents to elevated pollutant concentrations due to the proximity of South Marketgait and impacts associated with vehicle movements generated by the site. Here’s our case study for a more detailed review of the project.
• Brown Street, Dundee – Air Quality Assessment in support of a seven-storey building comprising five commercial units at ground floor level and student accommodation from first floor and above. Included assessment of potential exposure of future occupants to elevated pollutant concentrations due to the proximity of Marketgait and impacts associated with vehicle movements generated by the site.
• Brown Street, Dundee – Air Quality Assessment in support of a part-five, part-six storey building to provide commercial space at ground floor level and 63 residential units from first floor upwards. Included consideration of potential exposure of future occupants to high pollution levels through dispersion modelling and impacts associated with vehicle movements and construction dust emissions generated by the site.

Air Quality Assessment Services

Our air quality experts specialise in all aspects of air quality consultancy. Those relating to planning include:

• Air Quality Assessments in support of planning applications.
• Air Quality Assessments in support of Environmental Permit applications.
• Environmental Impact Assessments.
• Dispersion Modelling Assessments.
• Odour Assessments.
• Construction Dust Risk Assessments and Management Plans.
• Low Emissions Strategies.

Additional Services

We also have expertise in the following areas:

• Bioaerosol Risk Assessments.
• Ambient Air Quality Monitoring.
• BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Assessments.
• Indoor air quality testing.
• Kitchen Odour Assessments.
• Ecological and Ammonia Assessments.
• Local Air Quality Management reports.
• Air Quality Constraints and Screening Opinions.
• Dust and Odour Management Plans.
• Expert Witness.

Get in Touch

If you are concerned about air quality or require an Air Quality Assessment in Dundee undertaken to support a planning application for your development, then please get in touch today to discuss how we can help you ensure permission is granted.