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Air quality

Air quality in Aberdeenshire

Air Quality in Aberdeenshire is generally very good. A three-day forecast of air quality is available on the website Air Quality in Scotland. Enter your post code on the website and check what the air quality is like near you.

Local air quality management 

Aberdeenshire Council’s Environmental Health Officers have responsibilities under the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess air quality within the local authority area. The pollutants that local authorities must consider are decided by government and listed in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2007. An annual review of the potential sources of these pollutants is carried out, and a report is submitted to the UK and Scottish Governments recording the findings of each annual review. 

You can find our annual progress reports on the Scottish Air Quality Database or by contacting Environmental Health at environmental@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. 

Planning for air quality 

Air quality could be a consideration in some planning submissions, particularly for the following types of development: 

  • Proposals giving rise to a significant change in traffic volumes or types of traffic using local roads (for example, an increase in heavy goods vehicles), or over 100 car parking spaces
  • Proposals that could give rise to potentially significant impacts during construction (for example, dust affecting nearby residences), or long term construction sites with significant movements of heavy goods vehicles
  • Proposals that include biomass plant or combined heat and power plant (CHP) or diesel generators
  • Proposals for new intensive poultry or pig farming activities
  • Proposals for new mineral extraction or quarrying activities
  • Proposals for major new petrol stations
  • Proposals for new industrial sites

The Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) have produced a series of guidance documents to assist developers and local authorities with air quality considerations during planning for new developments:

If you are unsure whether air quality issues should be considered during planning for your new development, please contact us to discuss.

Biomass and CHP

Aberdeenshire Council supports the provision of heat and/or electricity from renewable sources, including biomass. There are a number of guidance documents available to assist developers, businesses and homeowners who are considering biomass as a renewable energy option:

If you choose to install a biomass or CHP system you are required to provide details of your proposals to Environmental Health. Please complete the appropriate form below:

Completed forms should be returned to environmental@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. If you have any queries about the form or would like to discuss your biomass or CHP proposals with us, please contact us.