Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across Chichester and West Sussex. Our chartered professionals support planning applications near the A27, the historic city centre, Chichester Harbour AONB and the South Downs National Park.
Chichester District Council's Air Quality Management Area covers the A27 Chichester bypass and the city centre, reflecting the severe congestion on one of the most constrained sections of the south coast trunk road. The Chichester bypass is a longstanding bottleneck on the national road network, with the Fishbourne and Whyke roundabouts operating at or beyond capacity and generating persistent nitrogen dioxide exceedances that directly affect residential properties along the corridor. Any development that introduces sensitive uses close to the A27, or that adds measurable traffic to this already overloaded route, requires a thorough air quality assessment demonstrating compliance with health-based objectives.
The planning context in Chichester is unusually complex even by West Sussex standards. The district is flanked to the north by the South Downs National Park, whose sensitive chalk grassland and woodland habitats must be protected from nitrogen deposition, and to the south by Chichester Harbour — a Special Protection Area, Ramsar site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of international significance. The presence of these two major designations on either side of the urban area means that virtually any strategic development in the district must address both human health impacts from traffic and potential effects on designated nature conservation sites. The city's historic fabric, including its Roman walls, medieval street pattern and numerous listed buildings, also makes construction dust management particularly important to protect irreplaceable heritage assets.
At Air Dust Odour, our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific and layered planning requirements of Chichester District Council, West Sussex County Council, the South Downs National Park Authority, Natural England and Historic England. We have experience preparing air quality assessments, construction dust risk assessments, Construction Environmental Management Plans and odour assessments for strategic housing allocations at Tangmere and Southbourne, city centre regeneration schemes and commercial developments across the district. Our reports are technically rigorous and written to satisfy the full range of statutory consultees that apply in this environmentally sensitive district.
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Request a QuoteWe provide specialist air quality, dust and odour assessment services for planning applications across Chichester district and the wider West Sussex area.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across Chichester. Our assessments address the A27 AQMA corridor, evaluate human health impacts in line with IAQM and EPUK guidance, and where required carry out nitrogen deposition analysis for developments near Chichester Harbour SPA and the South Downs National Park using APIS data and critical loads methodology.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for demolition and construction projects across Chichester. The city's historic fabric, including its Roman walls, medieval buildings and conservation areas, makes dust management particularly sensitive, and Historic England will take an interest in construction dust where it threatens to soil or damage irreplaceable heritage assets.
Specialist assessments for developments near Chichester Harbour Special Protection Area and the South Downs National Park. We quantify incremental nitrogen deposition contributions from new development using atmospheric dispersion modelling and APIS critical load data, providing the technical evidence needed to satisfy Natural England and the South Downs National Park Authority as statutory consultees.
Kitchen odour assessments following the EMAQ+ methodology for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens across Chichester city and the wider district. We also carry out odour assessments for agricultural, equestrian and rural uses where development proposals are located close to sensitive receptors in this predominantly rural district.
We provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across Chichester district and the surrounding West Sussex area.
If your development falls within or adjacent to Chichester District Council's Air Quality Management Area, which covers the A27 and the city centre, an air quality assessment is very likely to be required. The A27 Chichester bypass is one of the most congested sections of the south coast trunk road and generates significant nitrogen dioxide exceedances, particularly at the Fishbourne and Whyke roundabouts. Chichester District Council routinely requires air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments that introduce sensitive receptors near the A27 or generate additional traffic onto this constrained corridor.
Chichester's medieval street pattern, Roman walls and historic buildings create a sensitive environment where construction dust management requires particular care. Historic England is a statutory consultee for development affecting listed buildings and the conservation area, and will take an interest in construction dust where it could cause soiling or damage to historic fabric. A robust Construction Environmental Management Plan with appropriate dust suppression measures is essential for any significant demolition or construction scheme within or adjacent to the city walls.
Chichester Harbour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also a Special Protection Area and Ramsar site of international importance for its coastal habitats and overwintering birds. Development in the southern part of Chichester District must demonstrate that air quality and dust impacts will not adversely affect the AONB's special qualities or the designated habitats of the harbour, requiring careful assessment of nitrogen deposition and cumulative impacts alongside existing background concentrations.
Yes. Chichester District Council's Local Plan sets out major housing growth requirements, with significant allocations at Tangmere, Southbourne and across the district. Despite environmental constraints from the A27, the South Downs National Park and Chichester Harbour AONB, the Local Plan commits to substantial new residential development and air quality assessment is a standard planning requirement for most strategic allocations. Our consultants are familiar with the Local Plan policies and the specific requirements of CDC's environmental officers.
A screening assessment or desk-based air quality report 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 traffic data availability. For schemes near Chichester Harbour or the South Downs National Park that require habitat sensitivity analysis, additional time should be allowed for critical loads assessment and consultation with Natural England, so early engagement is strongly recommended.
