Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across South East England. Our chartered professionals support planning applications throughout the region.
South East England has one of the highest concentrations of Air Quality Management Areas in the United Kingdom, driven by its proximity to London, an extensive motorway and major road network — including the M25, M3, M4, M20, M23 and M2 — and consistently high development pressure. From the Thames Estuary to the Hampshire coast, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter levels remain a significant planning consideration for local authorities across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
The region's development pipeline is among the largest outside London, with major growth concentrated around Gatwick Airport, the Thames Estuary, the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and numerous urban extensions and new settlements. Large-scale infrastructure projects, strategic housing allocations and the continued expansion of commercial and logistics facilities all generate demand for robust air quality evidence. Many South East authorities now expect air quality neutral assessments for major schemes, reflecting the region's elevated background pollutant concentrations and the cumulative impact of sustained development.
At Air Dust Odour, we work with developers, architects and planning consultants across South East England. Our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific requirements of each local authority and deliver clear, authoritative reports that satisfy planning officers and keep your project on track.
We provide specialist air quality, dust and odour assessment services for planning applications across South East England.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across South East England. Our assessments follow IAQM guidance and address the specific requirements of local authorities across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including exposure assessment and mitigation design.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for demolition, earthworks and construction projects across the South East. With high population density and sensitive receptors frequently 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. Kitchen odour assessments are routinely required by South East authorities for new or expanded commercial kitchen operations, particularly in busy town centres and high streets across the region.
Demonstrating that a proposed development will not worsen local air quality by exceeding transport and building emission benchmarks. An increasing number of South East local authorities require air quality neutral assessments for major schemes, particularly in areas with elevated background pollutant concentrations close to the M25 corridor and major radial routes from London.
We provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across South East England and the surrounding areas.
If your development is within or adjacent to an Air Quality Management Area, or if it introduces new sensitive receptors close to busy roads, an air quality assessment is very likely to be required. The South East has one of the highest concentrations of AQMAs in the country due to its proximity to London and extensive motorway network including the M25, M3, M4, M20, M23 and M2. Local planning authorities across the region routinely request air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments.
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.
The South East's proximity to London significantly increases air quality scrutiny for new developments. Background pollutant concentrations are already elevated across much of the region, particularly in areas close to the M25 corridor and major radial routes. Many South East local authorities apply similar air quality standards to those used in London, and some require air quality neutral assessments for major developments. The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone and increasing focus on regional air quality mean that developments even well outside London can face rigorous air quality requirements.
Most construction projects in the South East that require planning permission will need a construction dust risk assessment and, for larger schemes, a Construction Environmental Management Plan. The region's high population density and concentration of sensitive receptors mean dust impacts are a significant concern for local planning authorities. The assessment follows IAQM guidance to evaluate dust risk and specify appropriate mitigation measures to protect neighbouring properties during demolition, earthworks and construction.
We cover the entire South East region including Brighton, Oxford, Cambridge, Reading, Milton Keynes, Canterbury, Guildford, Maidstone, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, Slough and High Wycombe. We also cover surrounding towns and rural areas across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
