Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across Edinburgh and Central Scotland. Our chartered professionals support planning applications throughout the region.
Edinburgh has several Air Quality Management Areas, particularly in the city centre and along major transport corridors including St John's Road, Queensferry Road, Great Junction Street and Glasgow Road. Persistent nitrogen dioxide exceedances in these congested areas mean that air quality is a key planning consideration for developments across the capital.
The city's significant development pipeline — including Edinburgh St James Quarter, the Granton Waterfront regeneration, the BioQuarter expansion and ongoing residential growth across the Lothians — drives consistent demand for air quality assessments, construction dust assessments and CEMPs. Scotland's planning system, governed by National Planning Framework 4, requires that new developments do not have significant adverse effects on air quality. Local authorities carry out Local Air Quality Management under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and report to the Scottish Government, which sets air quality objectives broadly aligned with those in England.
At Air Dust Odour, we work with developers, architects and planning consultants across Edinburgh and Central Scotland. Our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific requirements of Scottish planning authorities 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 Edinburgh and Central Scotland.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Our assessments follow IAQM guidance and address the specific requirements of the City of Edinburgh Council and neighbouring Scottish authorities, including exposure assessment, damage cost calculations and mitigation design.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for demolition, earthworks and construction projects across Edinburgh and Central Scotland. With sensitive receptors including listed buildings and residential properties often close to development sites, a robust dust assessment and CEMP are essential to satisfy planning conditions and protect neighbouring properties.
Odour risk assessments for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens following the EMAQ+ methodology. Edinburgh's thriving food and drink scene, particularly along the Royal Mile, Leith Walk and the New Town, means kitchen odour assessments are routinely required for new or expanded commercial kitchen operations across the city.
Detailed odour impact assessments for industrial processes, waste management facilities, wastewater treatment works and other odour-generating operations. We use dispersion modelling and IAQM guidance to quantify odour impacts at sensitive receptors and demonstrate compliance with Scottish planning and environmental permitting requirements.
We provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Central Scotland.
If your development is within or adjacent to one of Edinburgh's Air Quality Management Areas, or if it introduces new sensitive receptors near busy roads, an air quality assessment is very likely to be required. The City of Edinburgh Council routinely requests air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments, particularly those generating significant traffic or located near congested corridors such as St John's Road, Queensferry Road and the city centre. Scotland's planning system operates under NPF4 and similar principles to England regarding the protection of air quality.
Scotland's planning framework, including National Planning Framework 4, requires that developments do not have significant adverse effects on air quality. Local authorities in Scotland carry out Local Air Quality Management under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, just as in England, but report to the Scottish Government rather than Defra. Air quality assessments for Scottish planning applications follow the same IAQM and LAQM technical guidance, and the Scottish Government sets air quality objectives that are broadly aligned with those in England, with some differences in particulate matter standards. Our team understands these distinctions and prepares assessments that meet the expectations of Scottish planning authorities.
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 local authority requirements influence the final cost. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your project.
Edinburgh has several AQMAs declared primarily for exceedances of nitrogen dioxide along busy road corridors and in the city centre. Key areas include streets such as St John's Road, Queensferry Road, Great Junction Street and Glasgow Road. These AQMAs reflect persistent traffic-related air pollution in congested parts of the city. If your development site falls within or near an AQMA, an air quality assessment will almost certainly be required as part of your planning application.
Yes. While we have particular expertise in Edinburgh and the Lothians, we provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across Central Scotland and beyond. We regularly work on projects in Fife, Falkirk, Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Dunfermline, Livingston and other locations throughout Scotland. Our assessments are tailored to the requirements of the relevant Scottish local authority and comply with Scottish Government air quality standards.
