Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across Sunderland and Wearside. Our chartered professionals support planning applications throughout the region.
Sunderland has declared Air Quality Management Areas along key corridors including the A690 at St Mary's Boulevard and the A183 Chester Road, where nitrogen dioxide levels have historically exceeded legal limits. The city's busy road network and ongoing industrial activity create particular air quality challenges that must be addressed through the planning process.
The city is undergoing a major transformation — with the Riverside Sunderland development bringing new homes, offices and public spaces to the city centre, the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) creating a world-class employment zone near Nissan, and the regeneration of the former Vaux Brewery site. These landmark projects, alongside wider residential and commercial development across Wearside and County Durham, are driving sustained demand for air quality assessments, construction dust assessments and CEMPs.
At Air Dust Odour, we work with developers, architects and planning consultants across Sunderland and the wider North East. Our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific requirements of Sunderland City Council and neighbouring 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 Sunderland, Wearside and County Durham.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across Sunderland and the wider region. Our assessments follow IAQM guidance and address the specific requirements of Sunderland City Council and neighbouring authorities, including exposure assessment and mitigation design for developments near AQMAs and busy road corridors.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for demolition, earthworks and construction projects across the region. With extensive regeneration activity at Riverside Sunderland, the IAMP and across the city centre, a robust dust assessment and CEMP are essential to satisfy planning conditions and protect neighbouring properties and sensitive receptors.
Odour impact assessments for industrial, waste management and manufacturing operations across Wearside and County Durham. We assess odour sources using IAQM guidance and, where required, detailed dispersion modelling to quantify potential impacts on sensitive receptors and design appropriate mitigation measures to support planning applications.
Odour risk assessments for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens following the EMAQ+ methodology. Sunderland's growing food and drink scene, particularly in the regenerated city centre and along the seafront, means kitchen odour assessments are routinely required for new or expanded commercial kitchen operations.
We provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across Wearside, County Durham and the surrounding areas.
If your development is within or adjacent to one of Sunderland'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. Sunderland City Council has declared AQMAs along key corridors including the A690 at St Mary's Boulevard and the A183 Chester Road, and routinely requests air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments, particularly those generating significant traffic or located near congested routes.
Sunderland is undergoing significant regeneration, with major developments including Riverside Sunderland, the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, and the former Vaux Brewery site. Sunderland City Council expects air quality assessments to address cumulative traffic impacts from new development and demonstrate that proposals will not worsen air quality in areas already close to or exceeding legal limits. The city's industrial heritage and ongoing manufacturing activity also mean odour and dust assessments are frequently required.
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.
Most construction projects in Sunderland that require planning permission will need a construction dust risk assessment and, for larger schemes, a Construction Environmental Management Plan. With extensive regeneration activity at Riverside Sunderland, the Vaux site and across the city centre, sensitive receptors are often close to development sites. 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.
