The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Development Consent Order 2016

Air quality monitoring and mitigation

16.—(1) No part of the authorised development is to commence until the undertaker has installed—

(a) continuous air quality monitors in respect of oxides of nitrogen and fine particles at PM10 and PM 2.5 fractions at or close to—

(i) the junction of Histon Road and Huntingdon Road in the city of Cambridge to be agreed with Cambridge City Council; and

(ii) the historic South Cambridgeshire District Council monitoring location close to Bar Hill to be agreed with South Cambridgeshire District Council; and

(b) diffusion tube monitors in 8 locations to be agreed with Huntingdonshire District Council in Huntingdon, Brampton, Fenstanton, Alconbury, Offord Cluny and Hilton,

and the monitors have subsequently been operated by the undertaker so that the data covering an uninterrupted period of at least 2 months has been obtained by the undertaker.

(2) The specification for installation, operation and data provision must be agreed in writing with the relevant Council prior to the commissioning of monitoring.

(3) The undertaker must operate the monitors installed under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) during the construction of the authorised development and for a period of at least 3 years from the opening of the authorised development for public use, and until such time that the monitoring shows a continuous period of 12 months with no exceedances of national air quality objectives or European Union limit values for the pollutants monitored;

(b) in line with guidance on air quality monitoring issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from time to time; and

(c) in each case, in accordance with the specification for installation, operation and data provision prepared under sub-paragraph (2).

(4) The relevant Council must support the undertaker where possible in facilitating the installation of the air quality monitoring equipment to be operated by the undertaker under sub-paragraph (1).

(5) During the time period mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(a)—

(a) the undertaker must make all data obtained from the monitors available to the relevant Council; and

(b) each relevant Council must supply to the undertaker all air quality monitoring data obtained from its existing air quality monitors on an annual basis.

(6) If, following analysis by the undertaker in consultation with the relevant Council of the monitoring data mentioned in sub-paragraph (5), it reasonably appears that the authorised development has materially worsened air quality such that there are exceedances of national air quality objectives, or European Union limit values for the pollutants monitored, the undertaker must discuss and agree with the relevant Council on a scheme of mitigation, which must be submitted to the Secretary of State for written approval.

(7) Before considering whether to approve the scheme of mitigation, the Secretary of State must consult the relevant Council and take in to consideration any local air quality action plans adopted by the Council as part of its local air quality management duties.

(8) The scheme of mitigation approved under sub-paragraph (6) must be implemented by the undertaker.