IAQM-compliant dust risk assessments and Construction Environmental Management Plans for developments across the UK — prepared by Chartered Environmentalists and accepted by planning authorities first time.
Construction dust is one of the most frequently conditioned environmental matters in planning permissions. Whether it arises from demolition, excavation, bulk earthworks, piling or general construction activity, dust from development sites can cause real harm to nearby residents, businesses and sensitive ecological receptors — and local planning authorities take it seriously.
A well-prepared dust risk assessment and CEMP demonstrates to the planning authority that you understand the risks, have identified appropriate mitigation, and have a clear management structure in place to oversee it on site. Get it right and the condition is discharged quickly, enabling your project to proceed. Get it wrong — or submit something too generic — and you risk delays, requests for further information, or a refusal to approve the CEMP.
At Air Dust Odour, we prepare dust risk assessments and CEMPs that are site-specific, proportionate and written to satisfy both the planning authority and your construction team. We follow the IAQM methodology throughout, and we understand what different local authorities expect to see. Our Chartered Environmentalist credentials provide the authority with confidence that the assessment is technically sound.
From initial risk assessment through to on-site monitoring and audit, we provide the complete dust management service for your development.
A site-specific dust risk assessment following the IAQM methodology — characterising the dust sources from your proposed activities, assessing the sensitivity of nearby receptors, and determining the inherent risk level. The risk matrix forms the technical foundation of the CEMP and justifies the mitigation measures specified. Prepared to a standard that local authority environmental health teams accept with confidence.
A comprehensive, site-specific CEMP covering all phases of construction — demolition, excavation, earthworks, construction and trackout. We include the specific mitigation measures appropriate to your site and activities, a dust monitoring protocol, a complaints response procedure, the responsible person structure, and reference to any site-specific sensitivities. Written to be approved by the LPA and used effectively on site by your construction team.
On-site dust monitoring using Directional Dust Gauges (DDGs) or real-time particulate monitors, providing the baseline and construction-phase data required by the planning condition or environmental permit. We arrange installation, collection and analysis of monitoring equipment, and provide regular reporting to the project team and the planning authority as required by the monitoring scheme.
Independent site audits to assess compliance with the approved CEMP — reviewing whether the specified mitigation measures are in place and effective, identifying any gaps, and producing a compliance report for submission to the planning authority or the Environment Agency. Useful for demonstrating ongoing compliance and for addressing concerns raised by regulators or members of the public.
Almost any form of earthworks, demolition or construction can generate dust. The IAQM methodology is scalable — the assessment is proportionate to the risk posed by the specific activities and site context, not applied as a one-size-fits-all exercise.
We have prepared dust assessments and CEMPs for a wide range of project types, from small demolition schemes to major infrastructure projects. Whatever the nature of your development, we can scope and deliver the dust assessment you need.
Our dust assessments and CEMPs are prepared in accordance with the latest IAQM guidance and national regulatory requirements, ensuring technical defensibility.
A CEMP sets out how environmental impacts — particularly dust, noise and vibration — will be managed during the construction phase of a development. It identifies key dust sources, assesses the risk to nearby receptors, and specifies the mitigation measures, monitoring protocols and management responsibilities that will be in place. CEMPs are commonly required as a pre-commencement planning condition and must be approved by the local planning authority before groundworks or demolition begin.
A dust risk assessment is typically required when a development involves activities with significant dust generation potential — demolition, bulk excavation, earthworks, piling or brownfield construction — particularly where sensitive receptors such as residential properties, schools or ecological sites are nearby. Many planning authorities require it as a standard condition on major development permissions, and some require it for smaller schemes in sensitive locations.
The IAQM methodology involves four stages: characterising the dust sources from proposed activities; assessing the sensitivity of nearby receptors; combining source and receptor to determine the inherent dust risk level; and specifying site-specific mitigation measures to reduce that risk to an acceptable level. The result is a risk matrix and a proportionate, enforceable set of mitigation measures that form the technical backbone of the CEMP.
Yes. We are experienced at preparing CEMPs quickly to discharge pre-commencement planning conditions. For straightforward sites, we can typically deliver a draft CEMP within 5 to 7 working days of receiving site information and confirming instructions. We work directly with your project team and, where required, liaise with the local planning authority's environmental health team to secure approval as quickly as possible.
Dust risk assessments and CEMPs for straightforward development sites typically start from around £600 to £900. More complex sites — large brownfield remediation projects, tunnelling works, or sites immediately adjacent to schools or residential properties — require more detailed assessment and are priced accordingly. We provide a fixed-fee quote following a brief review of your site and the planning condition requirements, so you know exactly what you are paying before we start.
