Local Air Quality Management

The Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process obliges all local authorities to review and assess air quality in their areas on a rolling 3-year cycle, and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved.

Where exceedences of the objectives are considered likely, the local authority must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends using to achieve the objectives.

CERC welcomes opportunities to assist local authorities with any aspect of Local Air Quality Management, from Updating and Screening Assessments or Progress Reports to air quality modelling for Detailed and Further Assessments and the compilation of emissions inventories.

CERC has been providing LAQM services to local authorities for over 10 years. We closely follow the Review and Assessment Technical Guidance, making use of the available tools and helpdesk services as necessary. CERC's ADMS-Urban and emission inventory toolkit EMIT are utilised for air quality modelling and emissions work.

CERC carries out industrial emissions modelling for IPPC/EPR and planning purposes, which may also be of relevance to local authorities. Please see the overview of our environmental consultancy services for more details.