Consultation - Draft Planning Guidance - Air Quality

The primary drivers for protecting and improving air quality are human health and securing sustainable development and the Council has a particular responsibility through the planning system to ensure no new pollution hotspots are created or no significant new human exposure is introduced where there could be existing poor air quality.

Non-statutory planning guidance (PG) was previously adopted in 2018 to support the current LDP, specifically Policy EMG 4, which requires developers to provide additional information on the impact of their proposed development on air quality. 

This guidance has served the Council well over the intervening period, but it now requires refreshing and the preparation of a new local development plan (LDP2) presents a timely opportunity to do so.

The draft guidance on Air Quality reinforces the council's commitment to maintain, and wherever possible, improve air quality.

It provides context and continuity and identifies specific requirements with regard to air quality that developers and their agents will be required to address when submitting planning applications. In particular, the draft guidance provides information on:

• when an air quality assessment is likely to be required.
• what should be included in an air quality assessment.
• mitigations of air quality impacts.

The draft guidance is intended to provide a better understanding of the Development Management process, which in turn, should help minimise delays and improve efficiency.

When approved, the guidance will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

You are invited to comment on this Draft Planning Guidance which can be viewed by clicking on the link below. 

New Planning Guidance - Air Quality (PDF, 780 KB)(opens new window)  (NB: Changes between the current guidance and the draft guidance have been highlighted in blue to help better facilitate comparison).

Comments on the guidance should be submitted by 12 Noon on Friday 23 October 2026. Please email responses to DPgeneral@westlothian.gov.uk

Note: Any comments you submit will be made public. If you want to remain anonymous, please ensure that you make this clear in your submission.

Should you have any questions regarding the draft guidance please contact the Development Planning and Environment team, either by email at DPgeneral@westlothian.gov.uk or by post at West Lothian Council, Development Planning & Environment, Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston EH54 6FF.

For further information on how the information you provide will be used please read our Privacy Notice 

_{This page was last updated on 11 September 2026}