A pilot digital service that generates air pollution assessments has been launched in Northern Ireland to protect the environment, accelerate planning decisions and lower costs for applicants.

Known as 'Get an air pollution assessment' and developed under the working title UK Air Pollution Assessment Service (UK APAS), the platform was unveiled by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, who said it will support the protection of sensitive habitats.

"Good air quality is vital for both our health and our environment hence the importance of finding and implementing new techniques or approaches to improve air quality. I'm grateful that Northern Ireland has been chosen as the first region to introduce the new Air Pollution Assessment Service," said Minister Muir.

"This digital tool will help us protect the natural environment, reduce planning delays, cut costs for planning applicants and their consultants, as well as provide a detailed analysis of the potential impact proposed developments would have on air quality.

"It will provide robust scientific evidence for NIEA and the planning authorities to assess when considering new planning applications such as large strategic road networks or agricultural livestock buildings. Applicants can also use the new system, which is free, as a design tool and to assess the benefits of any measures they are implementing to reduce emissions such as ammonia and nitrogen oxides.

"My desire is to bring about lasting improvements in the quality of the air we breathe and I believe this new tool has real potential to help us achieve that, so I would strongly encourage applicants and their consultants to use it and maximise the benefits it can offer to them and to our environment," he added.

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The new service aims to replace a patchwork of standalone, complex and inconsistent assessment methods currently used across the UK, where differing models and data sources can hinder efficient decision-making.

The project has been co-funded by DAERA (via the Carrier Bag Levy), Defra and other UK environment agencies, and led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the public body advising the UK Government and devolved administrations on nature conservation domestically and internationally.

Drawing on a comparable Dutch government model, the tool provides detailed air dispersion modelling to quantify aerial emissions and present data on habitats and emissions.

Developers and applicants will be able to estimate ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions from proposed projects and visualise how these pollutants disperse in the air and deposit on protected sites.

Steve Wilkinson, JNCC Director of Ecosystem Evidence & Advice said: "For the first time, this tool can automatically bring together emission footprints from multiple projects that could act in-combination to adversely impact our environment. Whilst the initial focus of the project is on protected sites, there is potential to expand the tool to assess air quality impacts from plans and projects on human health. However, work still needs to be done by the technical experts on this aspect of the service."

"With ambient ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition rates above the levels that cause harm to sensitive habitats at almost all NI's designated sites, NI has been chosen as the first region to implement the system. We have consulted with key stakeholders, including the agricultural industry and planning consultants and authorities, on the development of the tool. NIEA has also been providing training seminars and has been encouraged with the positive feedback," he added.

According to DAERA, expected benefits include a single, consistent and streamlined approach to assessments at lower cost to applicants; more efficient, transparent and consistent decision-making; time savings across planning and permitting; a free 'design tool' to inform more sustainable project choices; faster uptake of best practice and mitigation to reduce aerial emissions; and support for the development of emission reduction policies.

The service aligns with DAERA's Plan to 2050 'Sustainability for the Future' and will underpin the forthcoming Ammonia Strategy by enabling applicants to test and demonstrate the impact of low-emission measures. It will also contribute to delivery of other cornerstone strategies, including the draft Green Growth, draft Clean Air, draft Nature Recovery and Peatland Strategies, and the Environmental Improvement Plan for Northern Ireland.

Access to the 'Get an air pollution assessment' service is available via the DAERA website.