Air Quality Assessment Wigan
Chartered environmental consultants providing air quality, dust and odour assessments across Wigan Metropolitan Borough and the M6 corridor.
Environmental Consultants in Wigan
Wigan Metropolitan Borough occupies a strategically important position between Manchester and Liverpool, straddling major road and rail corridors that make it one of the most significant logistics and distribution locations in the north of England. The M6 motorway runs through the east of the borough, with junctions 25 to 27 anchoring a concentration of large logistics and warehousing operations that generates substantial heavy goods vehicle movements on local roads. New housing developments are planned across the borough, including in Leigh, Atherton and Golborne, meaning that the interaction between road traffic pollution and residential amenity is a recurring theme in the local planning process.
Wigan Council has declared AQMAs covering the A49, the A577 and Wigan town centre, all of which fall within the Greater Manchester Air Quality Management Area (GMAQMA). These designations reflect the influence of road traffic — particularly on key arterial routes through the town centre — on local nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Beyond the AQMA corridors, the M6 motorway itself represents a significant air quality constraint for any development proposing sensitive uses in proximity to the carriageway. Understanding both the local AQMA context and the motorway's contribution to background pollutant levels is essential to preparing a credible and plannable air quality assessment in this borough.
Wigan's coal mining legacy also shapes the environmental assessment landscape in a distinctive way. Brownfield development is common across the borough, and disturbed ground on former colliery and industrial sites can release contaminated dust during demolition and earthworks. A robust Construction Environmental Management Plan must address both the conventional dust risks of a construction site and any additional hazards associated with contaminated materials. Air Dust Odour provides the full range of environmental assessment services for Wigan, and our Chartered Environmentalists are experienced in the borough's specific planning requirements and site conditions.
Get a Free Quote
Tell us about your project and we'll provide a tailored, no-obligation quote.
Request a QuoteOr call us: 020 8050 3003
Our Services in Wigan
Air Quality Assessment
Planning-stage air quality assessments for residential, logistics, commercial and mixed-use developments across Wigan. We assess pollutant exposure at sensitive receptors along the M6, A49, A577 and other key corridors, with experience in the cumulative impact assessment needed for large logistics schemes near motorway junctions.
Learn more →Dust Assessment & CEMP
Construction dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for developments across Wigan. Where brownfield sites with contamination are involved, we ensure that the dust management strategy addresses the specific risks of disturbing contaminated materials, integrating with remediation planning as required.
Learn more →Kitchen Odour Assessment
Odour impact assessments for restaurants, takeaways, cafes and commercial kitchens across Wigan, prepared in accordance with EMAQ+ guidance. Town centre and suburban food premises regularly require this assessment as part of their planning applications.
Learn more →Odour Impact Assessment
Odour assessments for industrial, waste and logistics developments across the borough. With significant warehousing, processing and distribution activity in Wigan, odour assessment is sometimes required where operations involving food, waste or chemical processes are proposed near residential areas.
Learn more →Areas We Cover in Wigan
We provide environmental consultancy services across Wigan Metropolitan Borough, including:
- Wigan town centre
- Leigh
- Ashton-in-Makerfield
- Skelmersdale border
- Hindley
- Atherton
- Golborne
- M6 corridor
- A49 corridor
- Abram
- Ince
- Standish
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an air quality assessment in Wigan?
Wigan Council has declared AQMAs covering the A49, the A577 and Wigan town centre, all situated within the Greater Manchester Air Quality Management Area. Planning applications for residential, commercial and mixed-use development near these corridors, or near the M6 motorway which runs through the east of the borough, will routinely require an air quality assessment. The council expects developers to demonstrate that new development will not worsen existing pollution levels or expose future occupants to concentrations above the national objectives.
Does development near M6 junctions 25 to 27 require air quality assessment?
Yes. The M6 corridor through Wigan generates significant nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter concentrations, and the logistics and warehousing operations clustered around junctions 25 to 27 add further HGV traffic to local road networks. Developments proposing sensitive uses — such as residential, schools or care homes — within proximity of the motorway or associated distributor roads will typically require a detailed air quality assessment including dispersion modelling to evaluate receptor exposure. We are experienced in assessing sites in this corridor and can advise on the likely scope of work required.
Is brownfield development in Wigan subject to dust assessment requirements?
Yes, and often to a heightened degree. Wigan's coal mining legacy means that many brownfield sites have residual contamination that can be disturbed during demolition and earthworks, generating dust with potential health implications. A thorough dust risk assessment and CEMP will address both conventional construction dust and the specific risks posed by contaminated materials. We work closely with geo-environmental consultants where site contamination is a factor, ensuring that the dust management strategy is fully integrated with wider remediation plans.
Do logistics and warehousing developments in Wigan need air quality assessment?
Large logistics and warehousing developments in Wigan, particularly around the M6 junction corridors, can generate substantial additional HGV traffic that increases pollutant concentrations on already congested roads. An air quality assessment quantifying the traffic impact and evaluating effects on nearby sensitive receptors will generally be required for major schemes. We can also advise on dust management requirements during construction of large floor-plate logistics buildings, where significant earthworks are often involved.
How much does an air quality assessment cost in Wigan?
Screening assessments typically start from around £500, detailed assessments with dispersion modelling from around £1,500, and odour or dust assessments from around £800. The cost will depend on the scale of the development, its proximity to the M6 or AQMA corridors, and whether contaminated dust is a consideration. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your project.