Air Dispersion Modelling Services
Specialist air quality dispersion modelling for planning applications, EIA chapters and LAQM assessments. We use industry-standard software and follow IAQM and EA guidance to produce robust, council-accepted results.
The Quantitative Backbone of Your Air Quality Assessment
Dispersion modelling is the quantitative backbone of most detailed air quality assessments. Where a simple screening exercise cannot rule out a significant effect, modelling is the tool that quantifies exactly how pollutants disperse from roads, industrial processes and other emission sources to nearby receptors — and what concentrations those receptors actually experience. Done well, it provides the robust, defensible evidence base that planning authorities and environmental regulators expect.
Malcolm Pounder CEnv MIAQM leads all modelling work personally. We use ADMS-Roads for traffic-related assessments — the industry-standard model for UK planning applications — and ADMS-Urban or AERMOD for industrial point source, volume source and more complex scenarios. Model results are compared against national air quality objectives (NO2 40 µg/m³ annual mean, PM10 and PM2.5 objectives) and PCM background concentrations from DEFRA, so your assessment is built on data that planning officers and environmental health teams recognise and trust.
We work efficiently and to programme, provide clearly presented outputs with full methodology documentation, and communicate directly with local planning authorities where needed. Whether you need a straightforward ADMS-Roads run for a housing allocation or a complex multi-source EIA chapter for an industrial facility, we have the technical depth to deliver.
Our Dispersion Modelling Services
From screening-level runs to full EIA air quality chapters, we provide the right level of modelling rigour for your project.
ADMS-Roads Traffic Modelling
Predict NO2 and PM10/PM2.5 concentrations at sensitive receptors from proposed road schemes, new junctions or development-generated traffic. We set up and run ADMS-Roads models to IAQM and Highways England standards, calibrating against local monitoring data where available and presenting results clearly against the relevant air quality objectives.
Industrial Source Modelling
Point source, volume source and area source modelling for industrial, energy and waste facilities using ADMS or AERMOD. We model stack emissions, fugitive releases and process vents to demonstrate compliance with Environment Agency guidance and support permit applications, planning submissions and EIA chapters.
Screening & Detailed Assessment
Both Tier 1 (DMRB/screening) and Tier 2 (detailed modelling) assessments, proportionate to the scale and sensitivity of your project. Screening assessments allow planning applications to proceed quickly where impacts are demonstrably low; detailed assessments provide the full technical evidence base where a more thorough analysis is required by the LPA or EA.
EIA Air Quality Chapter
Full Environmental Impact Assessment air quality chapters, incorporating baseline monitoring, dispersion modelling results, significance assessment against IAQM criteria and mitigation measures. Written to a standard that satisfies planning inspectors, local planning authorities and statutory consultees including the Environment Agency and Natural England.
The Clients We Serve
We work alongside planning consultants, EIA teams, highways engineers and operators at all stages of the planning and consenting process — from pre-application advice through to condition discharge and appeal support.
Our modelling outputs integrate directly with your wider project team, and we are comfortable liaising with local authority environmental health teams and statutory consultees on your behalf.
- Planning consultants
- Developers and housebuilders
- Environmental Impact Assessment teams
- Highways engineers
- Industrial operators
- Waste management companies
- Energy developers
- Local authorities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is air dispersion modelling?
Air dispersion modelling is a computational technique used to predict how pollutants from roads, industrial processes and other sources will spread through the atmosphere and reach nearby sensitive receptors such as homes, schools and workplaces. It uses mathematical algorithms based on meteorological data, source characteristics and terrain to estimate concentrations at specific locations. The results are compared against UK air quality objectives and WHO guidelines to determine whether a development will have a significant effect on air quality.
When is dispersion modelling required for planning?
Dispersion modelling is typically required when a screening assessment (such as a DMRB or IAQM screening) indicates that a development has the potential for a significant air quality effect. This commonly applies to large residential developments close to busy roads, commercial or industrial developments with on-site combustion or process emissions, major road schemes, and developments near existing AQMAs or in areas with elevated background concentrations. The relevant planning policy is set out in the NPPF and IAQM/EPUK guidance.
What software do you use for dispersion modelling?
We use ADMS-Roads (by Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants) for road traffic-related assessments, which is the industry-standard model for UK planning applications. For industrial point sources, volume sources and more complex scenarios, we use ADMS-Urban or AERMOD. All our modelling is carried out in accordance with current IAQM and Environment Agency guidance on model selection and application.
How long does a dispersion modelling assessment take?
Timescales depend on complexity. A straightforward ADMS-Roads screening assessment for a residential development can typically be completed within 5–10 working days of receiving traffic data and site information. A full detailed assessment with monitoring calibration for an EIA may take 3–6 weeks. We discuss programme requirements at the outset and can prioritise urgent work where your planning timetable demands it.
How much does dispersion modelling cost?
Fees depend on the scope of the assessment — the number of modelled sources, the extent of the receptor network, whether baseline monitoring data is needed, and whether the work forms part of a wider EIA chapter. We provide clear fixed-fee quotes following a brief initial conversation about your project. All our fees are transparent with no hidden extras.