Wind Microclimate

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We carry out an initial review of the site constraints and development proposals, and advise on potential wind effects, enhancement opportunities and the most appropriate approach to support the planning application and meet the client's requirements. 

Assessments of the pedestrian level wind conditions apply the industry standard Lawson criteria for pedestrian comfort and safety, and are based on the most appropriate approach from:

• Experience-based desk studies; 
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); or
• Boundary layer wind tunnel studies.  

Desk studies consider the proposed development massing and exposure in conjunction with long term wind climate statistics applicable to the site, and draw on our extensive experience (several hundred projects across a period of over 20 years) in the assessment of wind flows, gained from wind tunnel testing of similarly massed schemes within similar urban settings.

CFD modelling provides more detail and is often less conservative than a desk study alone. It is less robust than wind tunnel testing but usually has shorter timescales and is widely accepted by local authorities (at both pre-app and planning application stages).

Wind tunnel studies provide a robust and detailed quantitative assessment, including the effects of gusts. We work with two leading UK laboratories to design, build and instrument a physical scale model of the development and surrounding area, which is then tested in the wind tunnel. Our analysis software then instantly processes the measured wind speeds to derive the pedestrian safety and comfort ratings.

We work closely with the design team to develop mitigation measures and enhance the amenity value of leisure spaces. This can include wind mitigation workshops in the wind tunnel to interactively develop the measures, allowing proposals to be optimised in term of effectiveness whilst minimising ground-level obstructions and costs.

We have extensive experience of EIA scoping and reporting. Our reports summarise the conditions in terms of suitability for various activities, taking full account of seasonal variations in wind conditions and pedestrian activities, in a clear and concise manner. A sample of the graphical illustration is presented opposite.