OVERVIEW
The North of Lowestoft Garden Village is a strategically allocated mixed-use development on 71 hectares of farmland on the northern outskirts of Lowestoft, between the A47 and the village of Corton. Allocated under Policy WLP2.13 of the Waveney Local Plan, the scheme is promoted by Suffolk County Council and will deliver up to 1,300 new homes, a two-form entry primary school and pre-school, a care home and retirement accommodation, a local shopping centre, employment areas, and extensive playing fields and green infrastructure. Designed around garden city principles, the development will significantly increase tree cover and provide substantial areas of public open space.
A key constraint on the site is its proximity to Lowestoft Water Recycling Centre, operated by Anglian Water, which lies immediately to the north. The Masterplan identifies the need for a cordon sanitaire of approximately 100 metres between the treatment works and any built residential development, making a thorough understanding of odour impact central to the project’s viability.
CREATE’S ROLE
Create were commissioned by Concertus on behalf of East Suffolk Council to provide air quality and specialist odour consultancy to support the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. Our primary task was to undertake olfactometric surveying to characterise the odour impacts of Lowestoft Water Recycling Centre on the proposed development site and surrounding area, enabling East Suffolk Council and Anglian Water to make an informed decision about the suitability of the land for residential and mixed-use development.
The surveying was undertaken in line with IAQM guidelines, with odour monitored over a three-month period. Olfactometric surveying was combined with odour dispersion modelling to build a comprehensive picture of odour behaviour across the site under varying conditions. We also provided broader Air Quality input to support the EIA scoping and Environmental Statement preparation.
Our roles, technical services and outputs included:
- Olfactometric Surveying Assessment (three-month monitoring programme)
- Odour Modelling
- Air Quality Assessment (AQA)
- Air Quality Scoping Report
- Planned Cordon Technical Note
- Environmental Statement (ES) Scope – Air Quality
CHALLENGES
The proximity of Lowestoft Water Recycling Centre to the proposed development presented a fundamental challenge to the viability of the Garden Village. Odour from water recycling facilities is influenced by weather conditions, operational factors, and seasonal change, making a single-point assessment insufficient. Therefore, a three-month monitoring programme was required to capture the variability and generate sufficient reliable data to inform both planning decisions and the design of the cordon sanitaire. Translating odour data into clear and defensible conclusions for a planning audience was central to our role.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND BENEFITS
The olfactometric surveying and odour modelling programme delivered a robust, evidence-based assessment of odour conditions across the site, providing East Suffolk Council and Anglian Water with the information needed to make an informed decision on the future of the Water Recycling Centre and the suitability of the land for development. Our Air Quality input supported the EIA scoping process, defining the scope of further technical assessment required to progress the planning application.