Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across Aberdeen and North East Scotland. Our chartered professionals support planning applications throughout the region.
Aberdeen City Council has declared several Air Quality Management Areas where nitrogen dioxide concentrations exceed Scottish air quality objectives, most notably along the Union Street corridor, Market Street, King Street and Wellington Road. These busy urban routes, combined with the city's granite canyon street architecture that restricts pollutant dispersion, make air quality a critical planning consideration for development in the city centre and surrounding areas.
Aberdeen is undergoing a significant period of economic transition as the city diversifies from its traditional oil and gas base into renewable energy, life sciences and tourism. Major infrastructure projects — including the Aberdeen Harbour expansion at Bay of Nigg, the TECA (The Event Complex Aberdeen) development at Bucksburn, and continued city centre regeneration — are driving demand for air quality assessments, construction dust assessments and CEMPs. The Scottish LAQM framework applies more stringent air quality objectives than those in England, and Aberdeen City Council expects technically robust assessments that address these standards.
At Air Dust Odour, we work with developers, architects and planning consultants across Aberdeen and North East Scotland. Our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific requirements of Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, and deliver clear, authoritative reports that satisfy planning officers and keep your project on track. We also offer noise and lighting assessments where required.
We provide specialist air quality, dust and odour assessment services for planning applications across Aberdeen and North East Scotland.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Our assessments follow IAQM guidance and address the specific requirements of the Scottish LAQM framework, including exposure assessment against Scottish air quality objectives, mitigation design and alignment with Aberdeen's AQMA action plans.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for demolition, earthworks and construction projects across Aberdeen. With major infrastructure works such as the harbour expansion and city centre regeneration creating cumulative dust pressures, a robust dust assessment and CEMP are essential to satisfy planning conditions and protect neighbouring properties and the coastal environment.
Odour impact assessments for industrial, waste management and commercial developments across Aberdeen and the wider region. Aberdeen's proximity to fish processing, energy sector operations and waste facilities means odour assessments are frequently required for new developments or changes of use near existing odour sources.
Odour risk assessments for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens following the EMAQ+ methodology. Aberdeen's growing food and drink scene, particularly along Union Street, Belmont Street and the harbour area, means kitchen odour assessments are routinely required for new or expanded commercial kitchen operations.
We provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the wider North East Scotland region.
If your development is within or adjacent to one of Aberdeen's Air Quality Management Areas, or if it introduces new sensitive receptors close to busy roads, an air quality assessment is very likely to be required. Aberdeen City Council has declared AQMAs along key corridors including Union Street, Market Street, King Street and Wellington Road, where nitrogen dioxide levels have historically exceeded Scottish air quality objectives. Residential, commercial and mixed-use developments in these areas, or those generating significant traffic, will typically require an air quality assessment under the Scottish LAQM framework.
Scotland operates its own Local Air Quality Management framework under the Environment Act 1995, with air quality objectives that are in some cases more stringent than those in England. Aberdeen City Council is required to review and assess air quality against these Scottish objectives and has declared several AQMAs where standards are not being met. For developers, this means air quality assessments must reference Scottish objectives and guidance, and planning applications are assessed against these tighter standards. Our team is fully experienced in working within the Scottish LAQM regime and liaising with Aberdeen City Council's environmental health team.
Costs depend on the type and complexity of assessment required. Screening assessments typically start from around £500, detailed air quality assessments with dispersion modelling from around £1,500, and kitchen odour assessments from around £800. Factors such as site location, development size and specific Aberdeen City Council requirements influence the final cost. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your project.
Construction projects near Aberdeen Harbour, including those associated with the harbour expansion at Bay of Nigg, will almost certainly require a construction dust risk assessment and a Construction Environmental Management Plan. The harbour area includes sensitive residential and commercial receptors, and the scale of ongoing expansion works means cumulative dust impacts must be carefully managed. The assessment follows IAQM guidance to evaluate dust risk and specify appropriate mitigation measures to protect neighbouring properties during demolition, earthworks and construction.
A screening assessment can typically be completed within 5 to 10 working days. Detailed assessments with dispersion modelling usually take 2 to 4 weeks depending on project complexity and the availability of traffic data. If baseline air quality monitoring is required, this can add 3 to 6 months. We work to your project timeline and can offer expedited turnaround where needed.
