Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across Greater London. Our chartered professionals support planning applications in every London borough.
London presents unique environmental challenges for developers. The entire Greater London area is designated as an Air Quality Management Area, with many boroughs operating their own supplementary planning guidance on air quality, dust and odour. The Ultra Low Emission Zone, high-density development and complex transport networks mean that air quality is a critical planning consideration for almost every project in the capital.
London boroughs typically require detailed air quality assessments, Air Quality Neutral Assessments and construction dust management plans as standard for new developments. The Mayor of London's Supplementary Planning Guidance on the control of dust and emissions during construction and demolition sets a high bar for mitigation measures, and planning officers expect technically robust reports that address these requirements comprehensively.
At Air Dust Odour, we work with developers, architects and planning consultants across all London boroughs. Our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific requirements of each borough and deliver clear, authoritative reports that satisfy planning authorities and help your project move forward without delay. We also offer noise and lighting assessments where required.
We provide the full range of environmental assessment services for planning applications across Greater London.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across London. Our assessments follow IAQM guidance and address the specific requirements of London borough planning policies, including exposure assessment and mitigation design.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans in accordance with the Mayor of London's SPG on dust and emissions control. We provide the detailed mitigation strategies and monitoring plans that London boroughs require before construction can commence.
Odour risk assessments for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens following the EMAQ+ methodology. London boroughs routinely require these assessments for A3, A4 and A5 uses, and we advise on extraction systems and filtration to meet planning requirements.
A London Plan requirement for major developments, demonstrating that transport and building emissions do not exceed established benchmarks. We calculate emissions against the GLA benchmarks and, where necessary, identify mitigation measures or offset contributions to achieve neutrality.
We provide environmental assessment services across all 33 London boroughs. Here are some of the areas where we work most frequently.
Most development proposals in London will require some form of air quality assessment. The whole of Greater London is covered by Air Quality Management Areas, and the London Plan requires developments to be at least air quality neutral. If your project involves new residential units, generates significant traffic, includes commercial kitchens or introduces sensitive receptors near busy roads, an air quality assessment is very likely to be required by the local planning authority.
Costs vary depending on the type and complexity of the assessment required. As a rough guide, screening assessments start from around £500, detailed air quality assessments with dispersion modelling from around £1,500, and kitchen odour assessments from around £800. The scope depends on factors such as site location, development size and the requirements of the local borough. Get in touch with us for an accurate, no-obligation quote tailored to your project.
An Air Quality Neutral Assessment is a requirement of the London Plan that applies to developments in Greater London. It demonstrates that a proposed development will not contribute to a worsening of air quality by exceeding benchmark emissions for both transport and building sources. If the benchmarks are exceeded, the developer must implement mitigation measures or make a financial contribution towards off-site measures to offset the impact.
If you are opening a new restaurant, takeaway, cafe or any commercial kitchen in London, most boroughs will require a kitchen odour assessment as part of the planning application. The assessment follows the EMAQ+ guidance and evaluates the odour risk based on factors such as the type of cooking, proximity to sensitive receptors and the proposed extraction and filtration system. We can advise on both the assessment and the specification of appropriate odour control equipment.
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 the complexity of the project and the availability of traffic data. If baseline air quality monitoring is required, this can add 3 to 6 months to the programme. We always aim to work to your project timeline and can offer expedited turnaround where needed.
