Policy information sourced from the Hertsmere Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan

SADM20 - Environmental Pollution and Development

Development should not result in any adverse impact to public health or wellbeing, or significantly add to contamination or pollution, taking into account the situation following any mitigation and remediation measures. Development proposals will be judged against the principles below and any future Contaminated Land, Air Quality or Noise and Vibration SPD.

Air

  • Development which would significantly exacerbate poor air quality in Air Quality Management Areas will not be permitted.
  • Sensitive development that is proposed to be located in or adjacent to Air Quality Management Areas will be permitted provided:
    • the impacts of poor air quality will not result in an undue impact on health; and
    • satisfactory mitigation measures are included alongside the application.

Land

  • Development on land that is known to be or suspected to be contaminated (or polluted) will only be permitted where a contaminated land assessment shows that the proposed development would not be likely to result in a threat to the health of the future users or occupiers of the site after any remediation measures are taken into account.
  • The use of the site must be considered compatible with the level of pollution or contamination that is present or would be present after remediation measures are taken into account.
  • Remediation measures should, where necessary, identify provision for the Environmental Health Department to monitor the site.

Noise and Vibration

  • New residential development should not be exposed to existing significant sources of noise pollution, unless it can be shown that mitigation measures would be successful in reducing noise impacts to an acceptable level.
  • Development which would create increases in background noise levels should be sited away from noise-sensitive development as far as possible: in addition, noise mitigation measures should be taken to ensure there is no increase in background noise levels beyond the site boundary.
  • The Council will use the more detailed criteria and guidance in Appendix A to interpret these principles.

Light

  • Lighting installations should be appropriate for the area in which they are situated and not harm the amenity of residents or the natural environment.
  • Well-designed lighting installations are considered to be those that use the minimum lighting intensity and hours of operation for security purposes, minimise light spillage and glare and do not cause harm to local ecology or dazzle drivers.

Odour

Development which potentially could create polluting odours should be designed with appropriate controls to ensure that there would be no odour detectable beyond the site boundary.

For more information please see the Hertsmere Policies Plan