30. Odour Impact Assessment
What is it?
Policy ENV1 of the Plan Strategy states that planning permission will be granted for development that will maintain and, where possible, enhance environmental quality, and protects communities from materially harmful development. Development must not result in an unacceptable adverse impact on the environment, including air quality.
An Odour Impact Assessment assesses the impact of odour generating uses on sensitive receptors; or the impact of existing nearby odour generating uses on proposals whose use/s are sensitive by nature.
Where necessary and appropriate, the assessment should include measures to mitigate odour impacts. This shall include details of proposed odour abatement system controls and demonstrate that the proposed controls are fit for purpose.
When is it required?
An Odour Impact Assessment should be provided with applications for:
- proposals for use/s which generate odour and have the potential to impact on the amenity of nearby sensitive receptors. Examples of odour generating uses include commercial kitchens, industrial processes, breweries/distilleries, waste transfer stations, sewage treatment/pumping stations;
- proposals for sensitive uses which have the potential to be impacted by existing odour generating uses in the locality. Examples of sensitive uses include new housing proposals, offices, hotels and tourist accommodation.
What should be included?
An Odour Impact Assessment should be carried out by competent person/s and in line with current best practice and guidance. Applicants are referred to guidance provided by the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM): Guidance on the Assessment of Odour for Planning.
Details of an odour abatement system should include:
- scale floor plans and elevations showing the positioning and design of ventilation, flue/s and extraction equipment including termination points;
- manufacturers details of the equipment proposed including odour abatement techniques; and
- assessment of certain processes may require odour dispersion modelling to predict impact at sensitive receptors.
Guidance
Further guidance is contained in the Council’s Sensitive Uses Supplementary Planning Guidance and Evening and Night-time Economy Supplementary Planning Guidance.
Useful guidance is provided by DEFRA – Guidance on the Control of Odour and Noise from Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems (2005) (This guidance was officially withdrawn in 2017 but remains a useful reference point).
A Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment may also be required (see section 30).
