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Local – Pollution

5.9.15. To ensure that new development is appropriate for its location, it is important to consider the likely effects of pollution on health, living conditions and the natural environment. This includes air, light and noise pollution. Potential land instability and contamination also need to be taken in to account.
5.9.16. Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts, as well as having potential impacts on sensitive habitats and species in close proximity. The main source of air pollution generated in Tonbridge & Malling is NO2 from road traffic. The Tonbridge and Malling 2020 Air Quality Annual Status Report28 which looks at NO2 levels in 2019 identified seven Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in the Borough, all related to emissions from motor vehicle exhausts. All AQMAs are monitored annually, and in late 2020, based on pre pandemic levels the council revoked the Ditton AQMA and reduced AQMA boundaries for Larkfield, Aylesford and Borough Green due to improving air quality. The council has also published its 2021 Annual Status report, however due to the impact of pandemic lockdowns on road traffic it is advised that this report and that for 2022 when it is published are treated as outliers and not used as the basis for air quality assessments for new developments.
5.9.17. In late 2021 the council’s updated Air Quality Action Plan29 was approved by members. This plan will guide the council’s actions on improving air quality for the next five years, and includes actions associated with the planning regime.
5.9.18. The Local Plan should seek to avoid wherever possible locating development in areas of poor air quality and should explore opportunities to improve air quality or mitigate impacts, such as through traffic and travel management, and green infrastructure provision and enhancement. The potential impact of air pollution on international wildlife sites (Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites) will be considered through a Habitats Regulations Assessment to be carried out during the preparation of the Local Plan.
5.9.19. The rich history of the borough often means that development sites require assessment for Contaminated Land due to historical use, in order to ensure the risks to health of future residents are minimised. The council has developed a Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy30 to aid in this process and ensure suitable mitigation is achieved on development sites.
Risks – not planning positively to protect and enhance the natural environment
5.9.20. By not planning positively to protect and enhance the natural environment, by not seeking to locate development in areas of least environmental or amenity value, existing natural environment assets are likely to come under pressure. Habitats and species within designated sites may deteriorate due to potential impacts from increased pollution, recreation, and predation, or become fragmented. This in turn may reduce the ability of local habitat networks to be able to adapt to climate change, which may result in a loss of species. In addition, development of Grade 1 Agricultural Land will result in the loss of the most valuable soils that currently provide multifunctional benefits to the local and wider community and economy.
5.9.21. Locating development on land outside of the AONBs will help to conserve and enhance these protected landscapes. However there is potential both, individually and cumulatively, to negatively impact on the setting of these areas and this in turn could impact on the designated areas themselves. The sensitive location, scale and design of development is essential to avoid or mitigate any impacts.
5.9.22. Seeking a higher target for Biodiversity Net Gain will need to be viability tested to ensure the delivery of a higher target does not put at risk the delivery of other local standards in the Local Plan e.g. affordable housing, open space etc.
5.9.23. Understanding the location of areas of existing poor air quality will enable new development to be directed away from such locations. However, development may increase traffic on the road network in other parts of the borough, potentially resulting in deterioration of air quality elsewhere. This in turn may result in the acreation of new AQMAs.