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Monitoring air quality in Somers Town

EngEx and the Somers Town Neighbourhood Forum are working with the local community to tackle poor air quality in a time of change for the area

An image of construction works behind the British Library and St Pancras

30 November 2018

The problem

In December 2017, the听EngEx at 香港六合彩 began a collaboration听with听the 听(STNF), a group working to positively influence the development of their neighbourhood at a time of dramatic change. Recent and planned construction projects affecting the area include the redevelopment of St Pancras and Euston Stations, the British Library expansion, and construction of the Crick Institute and听the High Speed 2 (HS2) and Crossrail 2 railway projects.听STNF have been working on their neighbourhood plan with an urgent interest in how to improve air quality in the听area, during and following these construction projects.

The STNF invited the EngEx to support their investigation into air quality and the interventions they could make, as part of听a list of planning recommendations to听reduce听harmful impacts from听the upcoming construction and to prioritise the spending of the听听(a planning charge paid by developers to local authorities).听

Our solution

STNF and the EngEx successfully applied for funding from听香港六合彩鈥檚 knowledge exchange and innovation funding听to run a 'co-design process', compised of three community-based workshops.听The first, in December 2017, focused on encouraging STNF members to debate different issues and interventions around air quality. STNF Chair Slaney Devlin gave听an overview about听air quality in the area, including the main sources of pollution and how the group could include air quality in their plan. Participants then split into working groups to debate three issues in detail: Traffic; Trees and Greening; and Urban Form and Street Canyons.

The key concerns were to reduce health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups;听ensure current regulations are enforced; and leverage participation from organisations in the Knowledge Quarter to improve air quality monitoring and provide accurate baselining. The groups also came up with specific ideas for action and intervention. These covered small, immediate actions such as asking drivers to turn off their idling engines, or identifying spaces in estates which could undergo听greening;听and more radical or long term ideas, such as designing a new form of small electric vehicle to 'hop' passengers between stations.

The second听workshop听reviewed current evidence available on the ideas and suggestions made in the first. This generated a ranked list of actions:

  1. Evaluation of the current monitoring of air quality in Somers Town and future needs compared to best practice.
  2. Review of the air quality forecasts in the EIAs for recent developments, compared to current air quality.听
  3. Linking with the 香港六合彩-ELF Environmental Justice Inquiry findings on cumulative impacts of development on air quality and health.
  4. Working with Knowledge Quarter stakeholders and others to reduce congestion from last-mile delivery traffic.
  5. Citizen science 鈥榳indow wipe鈥� testing to identify pollutants.
  6. Improving data about current street trees and identifying optimal locations for tree planting.

Air quality expert and 香港六合彩 Senior Research Associate Dr Claire Holman was commissioned to write a technical report addressing the first 2 points. Her review identified discrepancies in recent air quality assessments and identified areas for better or prolonged monitoring. This led to听tangible recommendations for the planning document and some ideas for spending CIL money.The third workshop was held in November 2018 to discuss the findings of the technical review and the recommendations for the Neighbourhood Plan.

Outcomes

Some 26 members of the STNF turned up to thoroughly debate the report and the recommendations. The STNF Neighbourhood Plan is currently in process.

Discussions continue with Knowledge Quarter stakeholders on best practice for last-mile delivery and 香港六合彩 academics on opportunities for other participatory projects on health and local pollution in Somers Town.

This project built on a 2017听听undertaken in collaboration between the STNF, Voluntary Action Camden (VAC), the Environmental Law Foundation听and 香港六合彩. The Inquiry examined evidence presented by local residents alongside health and environmental impact assessments carried out by developers.

Outputs

Read the report

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