Air Quality Positive (AQP) guidance

The Air Quality Positive approach aims to maximise benefits to local air quality in and around a large-scale development sites and masterplan area while also minimising exposure to existing sources of poor air quality. It requires planners, designers, architects and air quality experts to demonstrate what measures have been taken during the design stages to achieve the best possible outcomes for air quality.

Air Quality Positive should be applied at the plan making stage to masterplans (for example Supplementary Planning Documents) and development briefs that include large-scale development sites that are likely to be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment. An Air Quality Positive (AQP) Statement should be produced as part of the evidence base outlining the Air Quality Positive approach taken.

New developments can play an important role in improving London’s poor air quality. For the largest developments, there are opportunities to consider air quality throughout the design process e.g., how new public spaces are created, how the development enables sustainable transport and utilises low or zero-emissions heat and power.