Dr Semeena Shamsudheen, an air pollution expert from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, spoke at a Wokingham Borough Council meeting on March 26 about plans for 3,900 homes at Loddon Garden Village between Shinfield and Arborfield.
She asked councillors: “What independent, publicly available evidence demonstrates that building here will not… create increased health risks from PM pollution caused by construction activity?”
The site, near Shinfield, has already been described by University of Reading research as environmentally sensitive land.
Dr Shamsudheen said there is not enough monitoring of dust from building work, including cutting materials, mixing cement, plastering and digging.
She said: “I have seen the mitigation measures that you have taken on the website. I’m sorry to say that in my expertise these mitigations are not going to be very practical because they are all based on historical data.
“I would like to know whether you have proof that the future should be based on impact modelling with future climate impact scenarios.”
She warned that the smallest dust particles, known as PM2.5, can stay in the air for a long time and are easily breathed in. These particles can travel deep into the lungs and even get into the bloodstream.
Dr Shamsudheen also raised concerns about whether the development could make flooding worse, increase traffic, and put extra pressure on schools and GP surgeries.
Council leader Stephen Conway said the plans include checks to limit environmental damage. He said: “The submitted applications include a full environmental impact assessment alongside a series of additional technical studies designed to minimise the development’s environmental impact.
“The application is currently under review by our specialist officers. Construction related impacts such as dust will be managed through a construction environmental management plan.”
He thanked Dr Shamsudheen for her “very informed” question.
In a separate statement, Cllr Conway said construction “does usually cause disruption”, but added that measures such as damping down dust are used to reduce pollution.
He empasised that Dr Shamsudheen was “completely right to raise concerns”, and that the council would follow “the latest scientific guidance” and impose conditions to limit health risks, flooding and air pollution as the plans progress.
He said: “We’re not at the end of this development – we’re right at the beginning. It will take many many months before there can be a recommendation of approval.
“Much of the work that we will be doing will be to ensure that any development avoids both flood risk and risk of particulates.”