Air Quality Neutral and Air Quality Positive Guidance

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Consultation has concluded

Engagement on the guidance has now ended.

The guidance has now been published and is available on the AQN LPG and AQP LPG webpages.


Improving London’s air quality is one of the major challenges facing the capital. To help improve London's air quality, the Air Quality Neutral and Air Quality Positive guidance documents have been prepared to support the implementation of London Plan Policy SI1.

Air Quality Neutral requires all developments to meet the Air Quality Neutral benchmarks. As part of this requirement, emissions from both buildings and transport need to be calculated and compared to the benchmarks set out in the guidance.

Air Quality Positive outlines the London Plan's Air Quality Positive approach. This approach aims to maximise the benefits to local air quality in and around large-scale development in London. It requires planners, designers, architects and air quality experts to show what measures have been taken during the design stages to achieve the best possible outcomes for air quality.

What has happened so far

The guidance has been prepared by the Greater London Authority (GLA) with input and advice from air quality specialists. It has been developed following feedback from stakeholders at various events including the LEDNet Air Quality and Transport Workshop. The Air Quality Positive pre-consultation draft guidance was published for information in March 2021. We held a briefing event on 7 December 2021 - catch up below.



Equality impact assessment

The equality implications of the draft guidance have been assessed through an equality impact assessment, which can be viewed in the document library.


What happens next

The final AQN LPG and AQP LPG was published in 2023.

Register to be notified of planning policy consultations(External link) or sign up for GLA Planning News(External link).

Engagement on the guidance has now ended.

The guidance has now been published and is available on the AQN LPG and AQP LPG webpages.


Improving London’s air quality is one of the major challenges facing the capital. To help improve London's air quality, the Air Quality Neutral and Air Quality Positive guidance documents have been prepared to support the implementation of London Plan Policy SI1.

Air Quality Neutral requires all developments to meet the Air Quality Neutral benchmarks. As part of this requirement, emissions from both buildings and transport need to be calculated and compared to the benchmarks set out in the guidance.

Air Quality Positive outlines the London Plan's Air Quality Positive approach. This approach aims to maximise the benefits to local air quality in and around large-scale development in London. It requires planners, designers, architects and air quality experts to show what measures have been taken during the design stages to achieve the best possible outcomes for air quality.

What has happened so far

The guidance has been prepared by the Greater London Authority (GLA) with input and advice from air quality specialists. It has been developed following feedback from stakeholders at various events including the LEDNet Air Quality and Transport Workshop. The Air Quality Positive pre-consultation draft guidance was published for information in March 2021. We held a briefing event on 7 December 2021 - catch up below.



Equality impact assessment

The equality implications of the draft guidance have been assessed through an equality impact assessment, which can be viewed in the document library.


What happens next

The final AQN LPG and AQP LPG was published in 2023.

Register to be notified of planning policy consultations(External link) or sign up for GLA Planning News(External link).

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
    Consultation has concluded
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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
    Consultation has concluded
    Share Air Quality Neutral Guidance on Facebook Share Air Quality Neutral Guidance on Twitter Share Air Quality Neutral Guidance on Linkedin Email Air Quality Neutral Guidance link
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
    Consultation has concluded
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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
    Consultation has concluded
    Share Equality Impact Assessment - Air Quality Neutral Guidance on Facebook Share Equality Impact Assessment - Air Quality Neutral Guidance on Twitter Share Equality Impact Assessment - Air Quality Neutral Guidance on Linkedin Email Equality Impact Assessment - Air Quality Neutral Guidance link