Is Air Quality Slowing Down Your Planning Application?
Understand the risk. Avoid unnecessary delays. Take proportionate action early.
When Air Quality Is Identified Too Late
Air quality is increasingly influencing how planning applications are validated and determined. When it is identified late in the process, it can invalidate applications, trigger additional conditions, and restrict design flexibility — often leading to avoidable delays, increased costs and pressure on project teams.
Many of these issues are not caused by complex air quality impacts, but by uncertainty: whether an assessment is required, what level of work is proportionate, and how local planning authorities are likely to respond.
This resource is designed to help you address that uncertainty early.
Avoid Unnecessary
Planning Delays
Air quality is an increasingly important consideration in the planning process. When it is identified late, it can invalidate applications, trigger additional conditions, and restrict design flexibility — often leading to avoidable delays and cost.
We have developed a checklist designed to help developers, architects and project teams quickly understand whether air quality is likely to be a planning consideration for their scheme.
A Practical Tool: The Air Quality Planning Checklist
- identify whether air quality could present a planning risk for your scheme
- recognise common and often overlooked triggers for an air quality assessment
- decide whether early advice or a short screening review would be sensible
- avoid commissioning unnecessary work — or leaving things too late
How This Page Can Help
Whether you are at feasibility, pre-application or preparing to submit, this checklist supports you in three ways:
Understand...
... when air quality becomes a planning risk and why it is increasingly flagged by local planning authorities
Sense-check...
... whether an air quality assessment may be required for your proposal
Choose...
... a proportionate next step. rather than reacting to issues after submission
The downloadable checklist below is one tool to support that process — not the starting point for unnecessary work.
Who It’s For
This checklist is intended for:
- developers preparing or reviewing a planning application
- architects and design teams at feasibility or concept stage
- planning and project managers managing programme risk
- clients unsure whether an air quality assessment is required
How to Use It
The checklist is designed to be used before submission:
- Work through the questions based on your site and proposal
- Note any areas of uncertainty or potential triggers
- Decide whether early air quality advice would help reduce risk
For many projects, a short screening conversation is enough to confirm next steps.
What You’ll Get
- A clear PDF checklist
- Plain-English prompts based on planning practice
- A proportionate, non-alarmist approach
- Guidance shaped by real planning experience
Download the Air Quality Planning Checklist
This checklist provides general guidance only and should be read alongside local planning policy and professional advice.
Want a Quick Sense-Check?
If you’d prefer an independent view on your specific site, you can send your site address for an initial, no-obligation review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all planning applications need an air quality assessment?
No. Many projects do not require a full air quality assessment. The checklist helps you identify whether air quality is likely to be a planning consideration and whether early advice or a screening review would be sensible.
Is the checklist a replacement for professional advice?
No. The checklist is an early-stage decision-support tool, not a technical assessment. It is designed to help you decide if and when to seek professional input.
Will using the checklist slow my project down?
Quite the opposite. Using it early can help avoid validation issues, late conditions and unnecessary work, protecting programme certainty.
About Haze Environmental
Haze Environmental is an independent air quality and odour consultancy supporting planners, architects and developers across the UK. We help clients manage planning risk, protect design intent and deliver healthier places through proportionate, early-stage advice.
