Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SADM 18 Environmental Pollution

When considering development proposals, the Council will adopt the approach set out below to ensure that pollution will not have an unacceptable impact on human health, general amenity, critical environmental assets or the wider natural environment.

Contaminated land and soil pollution

Planning applications for proposals on land formerly used for industrial, commercial or utilities purposes, or land which is considered to be contaminated or potentially contaminated, must be accompanied by a preliminary Contaminated Land Risk Assessment.

Proposals which, by their nature, risk contributing to soil and water pollution will be required to demonstrate how this risk will be avoided or mitigated to an acceptable level.

Air Quality

Prevailing air quality and potential impacts upon air quality arising from airborne emissions, dust and odour associated with the construction and operation of a proposal (including vehicular traffic) will be considered when determining planning applications. Proposals that would result in or be subject to unacceptable risk to human health and the natural environment from air pollution, or would prejudice compliance with national air quality objectives, will be refused.

An Air Quality Assessment that demonstrates how prevailing air quality and potential impacts upon air quality have been considered and how air quality will be kept to an acceptable standard through avoidance and mitigation will be required for major and minor development proposals that are:

  1. Likely, due to the nature of the proposal, to give rise to significant air pollution;
  2. Within an Air Quality Management Area;
  3. Within 50 metres of a major road (65)or heavily trafficked route(66);
  4. Within proximity to a source of air pollution which could present a significant risk to human health; and/or
  5. Particularly sensitive to air pollution due to their nature, such as schools, health care establishments or housing for older people.

The potential impact of proposals upon odour levels, or their sensitivity to prevailing sources and levels of odour, should be considered and addressed. Where appropriate, the Council will require an Odour Impact Assessment to be provided, including an Odour Management Plan where necessary.

Noise and Vibration

A Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment will be required for proposals with the potential to cause disturbance to people or the natural environment due to noise and/or vibration and for proposals that are considered to be sensitive to noise and/or vibration.

Proposals that would result in or be subject to noise pollution and/or vibration that is:

  1. Very disruptive and would have an unacceptable adverse effect on human health or the natural environment will not be permitted.
  2. Disruptive and would have a significant adverse effect on human health or the natural environment will be refused unless the need for, and benefits of, the development significantly outweigh the harm and all feasible solutions to avoid and mitigate that harm have been fully implemented.
  3. Intrusive and would have an adverse effect on the quality of life or the natural environment will be resisted unless all feasible solutions to reduce to a minimum and mitigate that harm have been fully implemented, including the use of planning conditions.

Light pollution

Proposals that include external lighting schemes, including floodlighting, will be approved where it can be demonstrated through a Lighting Assessment that all of the following criteria can be satisfied:

  1. The lighting scheme is the minimum required for security and operational purposes;
  2. Glare and light spillage are minimised;
  3. The amenity of residential areas is not adversely affected;
  4. The visual character of historic buildings and conservation areas are not adversely affected;
  5. There would be no dazzling or distraction of drivers using nearby roads;
  6. There would be no unacceptable adverse impact on the character or openness of the countryside and the green belt; and
  7. There would be no unacceptable adverse effects on species, habitats or the wider natural environment.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan