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Major Mixed-Use Development in Central Square, Cardiff
Cass Allen delivered an Air Quality Assessment to support a landmark mixed-use development in Central Square, Cardiff.
Like many city centre regeneration schemes, the project forms part of the ongoing transformation of a commercial core. It delivers a striking high-rise residential tower alongside active ground-floor uses in a highly accessible and well-connected location, close to the Millennium Stadium.
The scheme is located within an area where air quality is influenced by a combination of busy road traffic and nearby transport infrastructure, including rail activity. As is typical for developments in vibrant city centre locations, introducing new homes requires careful consideration of future residents’ exposure to air pollution, alongside ensuring the development itself would not give rise to adverse local air quality effects.
Our Approach
We undertook a proportionate and robust assessment in line with Wales and UK planning policy and IAQM guidance. The work included:
- Construction phase dust and particulate matter risk assessment, reflecting the typical risks associated with urban construction activity
- Review of local monitoring data and background pollutant concentrations, as commonly required for developments within or near Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)
- Detailed dispersion modelling of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) associated with local traffic movements, consistent with best practice for assessing transport-related emissions
Our approach was designed to address the complexities often encountered on constrained, urban sites, ensuring that both construction and operational phases were fully considered.
Outcome
The assessment confirmed that:
- Predicted pollutant concentrations are well below relevant Air Quality Objectives, demonstrating that, as is often the case for well-designed city centre schemes, air quality at the site is suitable for residential use
- The development will not result in significant air quality effects on the surrounding area, consistent with expectations for sustainably located, car-free or low-car developments
Like many modern urban schemes, the development benefits from a highly sustainable location, with a car-free design and excellent public transport connectivity. This not only supports compliance with planning policy but also contributes to positive long-term air quality outcomes and aligns with wider sustainability ambitions.
