Odour Assessment in Heathrow Airport
IAQM 2018 odour assessments, EMAQ+ kitchen extract surveys, dispersion modelling and Odour Management Plans for Heathrow Airport planning applications, complaints and permits. Chartered consultants covering West London / Hillingdon.
Odour assessment for Heathrow Airport planning, complaints and permits
Heathrow Airport has a diverse mix of odour-generating activity — including aviation, cargo handling, maintenance and engineering, construction (Heathrow expansion), hospitality and the supply chain economy. Where any of these sit close to residential property, schools, hospitals or other sensitive receptors, the local planning authority will normally require a formal odour assessment to support a planning application or to discharge a pre-commencement condition.
The standard methodology is the IAQM 2018 Guidance on the Assessment of Odour for Planning. For commercial kitchens, restaurants, takeaways and hotels the EMAQ+ methodology applies. Where the source merits a quantitative approach we run full ADMS or AERMOD dispersion modelling with site-specific meteorology — particularly for wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion, composting and rendering plants.
Air Dust Odour is run by Malcolm Pounder CEnv MIAQM, a Chartered Environmentalist and Full Member of the Institute of Air Quality Management. We work with London Borough of Hillingdon (and adjoining) and surrounding councils across West London / Hillingdon, delivering reports that satisfy planning officers and EH teams first time.
Our Heathrow Airport Odour Assessment Services
Every assessment is written to the IAQM 2018 framework (or EMAQ+ for kitchens) and signed off by a Chartered Environmentalist.
IAQM 2018 Qualitative Odour Assessment
Full IAQM-framework odour assessment for Heathrow Airport planning applications. FIDOR source characterisation, magnitude-of-impact assessment against sensitive receptors, mitigation recommendations and clear conclusions on significance. Suitable for the majority of planning condition discharges.
Semi-Quantitative Sniff-Test Assessment
On-site sniff-test surveys for existing Heathrow Airport operations with complaints or for new source characterisation where measured intensity data is needed. Walking-route assessment with FIDOR scoring at each station.
Dispersion-Modelled Odour Assessment
Full quantitative odour dispersion modelling for Heathrow Airport sites using ADMS or AERMOD with site-specific meteorology. Required for larger sources, sites in proximity to sensitive receptors, or where the IAQM framework demands a quantitative approach.
EMAQ+ Kitchen Extract Assessment
EMAQ+ methodology for Heathrow Airport restaurants, takeaways, hotels and commercial kitchens. Risk-banded assessment of cooking type, flue location and sensitive-receptor proximity, with proportionate mitigation and stack height recommendations.
Complaint Investigation & Source Tracing
Where Heathrow Airport environmental health has issued a complaint or abatement notice, we investigate, characterise the source, document compliance with the existing odour-management plan and design a remediation programme.
Odour Management Plan (OMP)
Site-specific Odour Management Plans for Heathrow Airport food, wastewater, AD, composting and waste-transfer operators. Tailored to the substance and the local sensitive-receptor context.
Heathrow Airport & Surrounding Areas
We cover Heathrow Airport and the wider West London / Hillingdon, with no per-mile travel surcharges.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need an odour assessment in Heathrow Airport?
An odour assessment is normally required for any Heathrow Airport planning application involving an activity with the potential to generate odour — including commercial kitchens and restaurants, food production, breweries and distilleries, wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion, composting, waste transfer, agricultural facilities and certain chemical processes. London Borough of Hillingdon (and adjoining) typically requires the assessment to follow the IAQM 2018 Guidance on the Assessment of Odour for Planning, with a written report submitted with the application or as a discharge of a pre-commencement condition.
What methodology do you use for Heathrow Airport odour assessments?
We apply the IAQM 2018 framework throughout: a documented source characterisation (FIDOR — Frequency, Intensity, Duration, Offensiveness and Receptor), an effects assessment against sensitive receptors, and where the source merits it a detailed dispersion modelling assessment using ADMS or AERMOD with site-specific meteorology. For commercial kitchens and restaurants we follow the EMAQ+ methodology. Reports are written to the standard London Borough of Hillingdon (and adjoining) expects and signed off by a Chartered Environmentalist.
What odour sources are typical in Heathrow Airport?
Common odour-generating activities in Heathrow Airport include aviation, cargo handling, maintenance and engineering, construction (Heathrow expansion), hospitality and the supply chain economy. The IAQM framework treats different sources as having different intrinsic offensiveness scores — for example wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion and rendering are scored as more offensive than bakery or brewery dust, which affects the magnitude of impact and the proximity at which a receptor is considered significantly exposed.
Who are the sensitive receptors for odour in Heathrow Airport?
Sensitive receptors for odour assessment in Heathrow Airport include residential property, schools, hospitals, care homes, hotels and outdoor amenity space such as parks, gardens and beer gardens. The IAQM framework recognises three sensitivity bands (High / Medium / Low) which affect the magnitude-of-impact assessment alongside the source character.
How much does an odour assessment cost in Heathrow Airport?
A typical qualitative IAQM odour assessment for a Heathrow Airport planning application (single source, residential receptor proximity) starts from around £1,500 to £2,500 plus VAT. A semi-quantitative sniff-test FIDOR assessment for an existing operation with complaints typically runs £2,500 to £4,500. A full quantitative dispersion-modelled assessment (ADMS / AERMOD with site-specific met) is typically £4,500 to £7,500. Kitchen extract EMAQ+ assessments are from around £800. See our odour services page for more.