Expert air quality, dust and odour assessments across the West Midlands. Our chartered professionals support planning applications throughout the region.
The West Midlands is one of the most dynamic development regions in the United Kingdom. Birmingham's Clean Air Zone — operational since June 2021 — has placed air quality firmly at the centre of planning decisions across the city, while Coventry's City of Culture legacy continues to drive regeneration and new development. Wolverhampton, Walsall and the wider Black Country are undergoing significant transformation, and the arrival of HS2 is reshaping the development landscape across the entire region.
The West Midlands Combined Authority area and the surrounding counties maintain multiple Air Quality Management Areas, reflecting longstanding challenges with nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter along major road corridors including the M6, A38 and A45. Local planning authorities across the region routinely require air quality assessments, construction dust assessments and odour impact assessments as part of the planning process, particularly for developments that generate traffic or introduce sensitive receptors near busy roads.
At Air Dust Odour, we work with developers, architects and planning consultants across the West Midlands. Our Chartered Environmentalists understand the specific requirements of each local authority — from Birmingham City Council to the smaller district councils across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire — 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 the West Midlands.
Screening and detailed air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments across the West Midlands. Our assessments follow IAQM guidance and address the specific requirements of Birmingham City Council, Coventry, Wolverhampton and other West Midlands authorities, including exposure assessment, Clean Air Zone considerations and mitigation design.
Dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for demolition, earthworks and construction projects across the West Midlands. With the dense urban environment of the Birmingham and Black Country conurbation, sensitive receptors are often close to development sites, making a robust dust assessment and CEMP essential to satisfy planning conditions and protect neighbouring properties.
Odour risk assessments for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens following the EMAQ+ methodology. Birmingham's vibrant food scene — including the Balti Triangle, Digbeth and Brindleyplace — and busy high streets across the region mean kitchen odour assessments are routinely required for new or expanded commercial kitchen operations.
Comprehensive odour impact assessments for industrial, waste management, agricultural and sewage treatment facilities across the West Midlands. We assess odour exposure at existing and proposed sensitive receptors using IAQM guidance, dispersion modelling and professional judgement to support planning applications and environmental permit applications.
We provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across the West Midlands and surrounding areas.
If your development is within or near an Air Quality Management Area, generates significant traffic, or introduces sensitive receptors close to busy roads, an air quality assessment is very likely to be required. Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and other West Midlands authorities all maintain AQMAs and routinely request air quality assessments for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments. The Birmingham Clean Air Zone adds further scrutiny to developments within and around the city centre.
The Birmingham Clean Air Zone, which became operational in June 2021, is a charging zone in the city centre designed to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels to within legal limits. For planning purposes, developments within or adjacent to the CAZ face heightened scrutiny regarding air quality impacts. Assessments must demonstrate that new developments will not worsen air quality and that future occupants will experience acceptable pollution levels. The CAZ also influences transport assessments and travel plan requirements for new schemes.
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, proximity to the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, development size and specific local authority requirements influence the final cost. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your project.
Yes, we provide air quality, dust and odour assessment services across the entire West Midlands region. This includes the West Midlands Combined Authority area covering Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Solihull, as well as the wider region including Worcester, Hereford, Stafford, Shrewsbury and Telford. Our consultants understand the specific requirements of each local planning authority across the region.
Most construction projects in the West Midlands that require planning permission will need a construction dust risk assessment and, for larger schemes, a Construction Environmental Management Plan. The region's urban density, particularly across the Birmingham and Black Country conurbation, means sensitive receptors such as homes, schools and hospitals 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.
