APS can assist local authorities fulfil their Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) requirements by providing Annual Status Reports suitable for submission to Defra. These set out an overview of air quality with each local authority and determine whether or not the national air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. The annual status report also sets out the strategies employed by local authorities to improve air quality and any progress that has been made, for which APS is well suited to help.

We can assist with:

• preparing annual status reports
• summarising monitoring results
• bias adjustment and annualisation of monitoring data
• maps of monitoring locations and AQMAs
• identifying local priorities and challenges
• actions to improve local air quality
• providing details of local engagement
• detailing progress on measures to improve air quality

APS can assist local authorities fulfil the requirements of the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process as set out in Part IV of the Environment Act (1995) and the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2007.

The LAQM process places an obligation on all local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. Where an exceedance is considered likely the local authority must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives.

APS can assist local authorities by undertaking detailed assessments to determine the extent of which exceedances of the air quality objectives may occur and providing Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) boundaries, suitable for declaration. This would also include source apportionment to determine the key sources of air pollution and recommendations of potential measures to improve air quality within the AQMAs. APS can also assist with further assessments if new information becomes available or to determine whether AQMAs require amending. APS is well suited to help with both.

We can assist with:

• undertaking detailed air quality modelling
• identifying locations and extents of AQMAs
• providing maps and contours of AQMAs
• source apportionment to identify the key pollution sources
• recommending potential measures to improve air quality

APS can help provide litigation support related to air emissions, dust or odour nuisance or exposure to poor air quality. APS has access to a network of experts where necessary to ensure the best support is provided.

APS can assist local authorities indentify measures to improve air quality and undertake feasibility studies to determine which measures would provide the best solution.  The findings may be used to inform the preparation of Air Quality Action Plans (AQAPs), which set out the measures a local authority intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives.

APS can assist local authorities by undertaking feasibility studies to determine which measures are most beneficial.  The directors of APS have extensive experience of undertaking feasibility studies, including air quality modelling of public transport improvements and micro-simulation traffic models to assess the potential of various traffic management options to improve air quality conditions within AQMAs. APS is therefore well suited to help.

We can assist with:

• undertaking detailed air quality modelling, including micro-simulation studies
• testing different measures and identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each measure
• carrying out source apportionment to identify the key pollution sources
• recommending potential measures to further improve air quality

APS can assist local authorities with the preparation of a new Local Plan.  The plan will likely guide the area’s future development, which may change local air quality conditions.  The spatial planning system has an important role to play in improving air quality and reducing exposure to air pollution both within these AQMAs and elsewhere in the district. In particular, the local planning policies set the framework for the determination of individual planning applications.  The local plan process will consider various sources of evidence to inform the authorities emerging policies and APS can help by providing detailed air quality modelling of the area.

We can assist with:

• undertaking detailed air quality modelling, including micro-simulation modelling where necessary
• identifying locations of exceedance of the air quality objectives
• carrying out source apportionment to determine the key pollution sources
• recommending potential measures to improve air quality
• providing an air quality report suitable for use as an evidence base for policies

APS can assist local authorities fulfil the requirements of the UK Government’s latest air quality plan (July 2017), including feasibility studies to support the production of local clean air plans to address air quality Limit Value exceedances.

The national plan sets out actions to reduce concentrations of NO₂ to meet the Limit Values in the shortest time possible, while recognising that assessment by local authorities may reveal alternative approaches informed by specific local knowledge.  The national plan identifies that for the majority of non-complying zones, a network of Clean Air Zones is the most effective route to compliance of annual mean NO₂ with legal limits.  Defra’s vision for Clean Air Zones is: “Clean Air Zones improve the urban environment to support public health and the local economy, making cities more attractive places to live, work, do business and spend leisure time. They support cities to grow and transition to a low emission economy thus ensuring these benefits are sustainable for the long term.”

The Clean Air Zone framework sets out the principles for the operation of Clean Air Zones in England.  It provides the expected approach to be taken by local authorities when implementing and operating a Clean Air Zone.  The need of a Clean Air Zone is to be determined by local feasibility studies aimed at understanding the extent of reduction in NO₂ concentrations to achieve compliance in these zones.

The directors of APS have extensive experience of both undertaking and quality assurance of Clean Air Zone feasibility studies on behalf of multiple local authorities, and APS is thus well suited to help.

We can assist with:

• screening studies to assist with short listing of CAZ options for the Strategic Outline Case
• detailed air quality modelling for baseline concentrations in order to submit to JAQU for the Target Determination exercise
• detailed air quality modelling of CAZ options to identify compliant schemes for the Outline Business Case
• sensitivity testing to determine the uncertainty of the modelling
• social distributional and health impact analyses
• public consultation and engagement events
• ad-hoc requests, exemptions, concessions and boundary changes;
• robust reporting for submission to JAQU
• regular liaison with local authorities and JAQU to ensure the study is robustly followed in and understandable and timely manner
• quality assurance of feasibility studies

APS can assist local authorities develop air quality policies and air quality guidance for development control. As members of both the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Institution of Air Quality Management (IAQM) we have expert knowledge and understanding of the current air quality best practice and guidance.

We also form part of the IAQM committee panel and thus have inside knowledge of any upcoming national policies and guidance that could be referenced in new policies and guidance. APS's Directors also have experience at national level and have recently assisted with Environment Agency and Greater London Authority guidance.

With access to over 50 years of experience, APS can provide both technical and policy-based input for local authorities.

Report Reviewing

As expert air quality professionals, APS can review air quality, dust and odour assessment repots for planning applications on behalf of local authorities. APS staff have vast experience in a range of industries, including reviewing air quality assessments of power-generating facilities on behalf of local authorities.

Step 1 of our reviewing process includes a critical, but fair, review of the assessment reports. We will prepare a detailed report that sets out any issues within the reports as minor, moderate or major issues, and a note specifying any further questions or clarifications needed from the applicant.

In Step 2 we re-review the reports if needed and check the model files used are appropriate and without errors.

Quality Assurance

APS can support local authorities with quality assurance services to ensure any modelling carried out by the local authority, or by a third party, is accurate and robust.  APS staff have vast experience in quality assurance and have carried out quality assurance of both small and large projects, including a Clean Air Zone feasibility study.

APS can provide air quality expert witness services for local authorities. With access to over 50 years of experience, including expert witness support, we are well suited to help.

Our expert witness services include:

• Liaising with the local authority and Counsel to discuss the best approach
• Detailed pollutant monitoring analysis
• Undertaking bespoke air quality assessments
• Providing proof of evidences
• Being an expert witness
• Providing ad-hoc support throughout the process