CEMP Air Quality
Specialist air quality sections for Construction Environmental Management Plans. We discharge your planning conditions with technically robust dust management plans that LPAs accept — and that contractors can actually implement.
CEMP Air Quality That Actually Gets Discharged
A planning condition requiring a Construction Environmental Management Plan is one of the most common pre-commencement conditions on major development. The air quality section — covering dust, vehicle emissions and non-road mobile machinery — is often the most technical part, and the one most likely to attract queries from the local planning authority or environmental health team.
At Air Dust Odour, we prepare CEMP air quality sections and standalone Construction Dust Management Plans that are grounded in the IAQM and GLA guidance frameworks. We assess the risk level of your construction activities, specify proportionate and practical mitigation measures, and present them in a format that planning officers and environmental consultees are used to seeing. The result is a condition discharge that goes through without unnecessary delay.
We work directly with developers, contractors, project managers and planning consultants at every stage — from pre-commencement condition discharge to on-site implementation support. If your project is in London, we also cover the GLA’s NRMM Low Emission Zone requirements, which catch many developers by surprise if not addressed early.
Our CEMP Air Quality Services
From standalone dust management plans to full CEMP air quality chapters, we provide the right level of detail for your planning condition.
CEMP Air Quality Chapter
A complete air quality chapter for your CEMP, covering dust risk assessment (using the IAQM methodology), construction phase emissions, sensitive receptor identification, and a full suite of proportionate mitigation measures. Written to satisfy the condition wording and the requirements of your local authority's environmental health team.
Dust Management Plan
A standalone Construction Dust Management Plan where the planning condition specifically requires this document rather than a broader CEMP. Based on IAQM guidance, it sets out the site-specific dust risk assessment, mitigation measures by activity phase, monitoring and complaints procedures, and management responsibilities — ready for submission as a pre-commencement discharge.
NRMM Low Emission Zone Compliance
If your project is in Greater London, all non-road mobile machinery above 37 kW must meet minimum emission standards and be registered on the NRMM register before construction begins. We prepare the NRMM compliance statement required by the GLA and many London boroughs as part of the CEMP, covering plant inventories, emission standards, and compliance verification procedures.
Condition Discharge Support
If your CEMP or dust management plan has been refused or queried by the local authority, we review the decision notice, address the specific points raised, and prepare a revised document for resubmission. We can also attend pre-application or pre-commencement meetings with local authority officers on your behalf to agree the scope and content of the CEMP before submission.
Types of Development We Cover
We prepare CEMP air quality sections for a wide range of development types and scales, from urban infill residential schemes to large strategic infrastructure projects.
Whether you need a document that satisfies a simple pre-commencement condition or a technically comprehensive CEMP chapter for a nationally significant infrastructure project, we have the expertise to deliver it on programme.
- Residential developments
- Commercial and industrial sites
- Demolition projects
- Infrastructure and highways
- Regeneration schemes
- Mixed-use urban developments
- Energy and waste facilities
- Schools and healthcare projects
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CEMP air quality section?
A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) is a document required by planning condition that sets out how a development will manage its environmental impacts during the construction phase. The air quality section — sometimes called a Dust Management Plan or Construction Dust Management Plan — identifies the dust and emissions risks from construction activities, assesses their potential impact on nearby sensitive receptors, and specifies the mitigation measures that will be in place. It is typically required on any development where construction activities have the potential to generate dust or vehicle emissions affecting nearby residents or businesses.
When is a CEMP air quality section required?
A CEMP air quality section is typically required by planning condition on medium to large developments where construction activities could affect nearby sensitive receptors. This includes residential and commercial developments of any significant scale, infrastructure projects, demolition works within 350 metres of sensitive receptors, and sites where a dust impact assessment has identified a moderate or higher risk level. Many local planning authorities now require a CEMP as a pre-commencement condition on all major planning applications, meaning it must be submitted and approved before construction can legally begin.
What mitigation measures are typically included?
Mitigation measures are drawn from IAQM and GLA guidance and typically include: dust suppression by water bowser or fixed irrigation, wheel wash facilities at site exits, vehicle speed restrictions on haul routes, covering of stockpiles and loaded vehicles, road sweeping to prevent trackout, complaints and monitoring procedures, and stop-work protocols for high-wind conditions. Emissions controls for plant and vehicles are also covered, including the use of NRMM that meets current Stage V emission standards.
What is NRMM and does it need to be covered in a CEMP?
NRMM stands for Non-Road Mobile Machinery — the diesel-powered construction plant (excavators, generators, cranes, piling rigs etc.) used on construction sites. In Greater London, all NRMM above 37 kW must meet minimum emission standards under the GLA’s NRMM Low Emission Zone policy, and compliance must be demonstrated in the CEMP. Outside London, many local authorities also require NRMM emission standards to be addressed. We include a full NRMM section in all our London CEMPs and address equivalent requirements for non-London sites where the condition requires it.
How long does it take to prepare a CEMP air quality section?
A standalone CEMP air quality section or dust management plan can typically be prepared within 5 to 10 working days of receiving the relevant site and project information. Where it forms part of a wider CEMP document, timescales depend on the complexity of the development. We work to your programme and can prioritise pre-commencement condition discharge where construction is imminent — just let us know your timeline when you get in touch.