Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality Assessments
Most local authorities require an air quality assessment when your development introduces new residential or sensitive uses near busy roads, falls within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), generates significant traffic, or includes combustion plant such as boilers or CHP units. We'll review your specific site and advise whether an assessment is necessary based on local planning policy and validation requirements.
Do I need an Air Quality Assessment for my planning application?
Typical turnaround times range from 2-3 weeks for straightforward assessments to 4-6 weeks for more complex schemes requiring detailed dispersion modelling. We'll confirm timescales when we review your project scope. If you're working to tight deadlines, we can often accommodate faster turnarounds.
How long does an Air Quality Assessment take?
Fees depend on the scope of work required—simple screening assessments start from around £750, whilst detailed assessments with dispersion modelling typically range from £1,000 to £2,000+. We provide fixed-price quotes once we understand your site location, development type, and what the local authority expects.
What does an Air Quality Assessment cost?
We assess all regulated air pollutants relevant to your development, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), and where applicable, sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide. For ecological assessments, we also evaluate nitrogen and acid deposition impacts on sensitive habitats.
Which air pollutants do you assess?
Dispersion modelling uses specialist software to predict how air pollutants spread from emission sources and affect pollution levels at nearby receptors. It's typically required when your development includes on-site plant (boilers, CHP), generates significant traffic changes, or is located in an area approaching air quality objectives. We use industry-standard tools such as ADMS-Roads and AERMOD.
What is dispersion modelling and when is it needed?
A dust risk assessment evaluates the potential for your construction activities—demolition, earthworks, construction, and trackout—to generate dust that could affect nearby properties. Following IAQM guidance, we classify the risk level and recommend proportionate mitigation measures to control dust emissions throughout the build phase.
What is a construction dust risk assessment?
Yes. If your development includes plant that requires environmental permitting (such as medium combustion plant or specified generators), we can support the application process. This includes demonstrating compliance with emission limits and, where required, integrating permitting requirements with your planning submission.
Do you provide environmental permitting support?
Air Quality Neutral (required across London) demonstrates that your development's building and transport emissions meet specific benchmarks, ensuring it doesn't worsen local air quality. Air Quality Positive goes further, showing measurable improvements to pollution levels—often through design measures like increased active travel provision, green infrastructure, or advanced filtration systems.
What's the difference between Air Quality Neutral and Air Quality Positive?
AQMAs are areas where local authorities have identified that air quality objectives are being exceeded or are likely to be exceeded. Developments in these areas face greater scrutiny, and you'll need to demonstrate that future occupants won't be exposed to poor air quality and that your proposal includes measures to minimise air quality impacts. We'll help you navigate these requirements.
My site is in an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)—what does that mean?
Yes. We prepare Indoor Air Quality Plans that assess potential pollutant ingress and recommend mitigation such as mechanical ventilation with appropriate filtration. This is increasingly required for BREEAM accreditation and is considered best practice for developments in areas with elevated outdoor pollution levels.
Can you assess indoor air quality for my development?
Not necessarily, but it will require careful assessment. We'll evaluate emissions against local air quality management objectives and, if needed, undertake stack height sensitivity analysis or recommend emission controls to ensure compliance. Early engagement with the local authority is often beneficial for these schemes.
My development includes a biomass boiler or CHP plant—will that be a problem?
Yes. Whilst many of our assessments focus on urban developments, we also work on rural and semi-rural sites, including those near ecological receptors such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). These assessments evaluate nitrogen and acid deposition impacts on sensitive habitats.
Do you work on projects outside urban areas?
We'll need your site location (postcode or site plan), a brief description of the proposed development (number of units, floor areas, use classes), details of any on-site plant or parking provision, and if available, any scoping opinions or pre-application advice from the local authority.
What information do you need from me to prepare a quote?
Absolutely. We provide post-submission support if the planning officer raises queries or requests additional information. This might include sensitivity testing, further mitigation recommendations, or clarifications on technical methodology.
Can you help if the council has requested more information after submission?
Yes. If your application goes to committee or appeal, we can attend meetings to present our findings and respond to questions. We also provide expert witness services for planning appeals, preparing proofs of evidence and appearing at inquiries when required.
Do you attend planning committee meetings or provide expert witness services?
If our assessment identifies significant impacts, we'll work with you to develop practical mitigation measures. These might include design changes (building orientation, increased setbacks), on-site measures (green walls, advanced ventilation), or off-site contributions towards local air quality management initiatives. Most schemes can be made acceptable with appropriate mitigation.
What happens if air quality impacts are found to be significant?
If our assessment identifies significant impacts, we'll work with you to develop practical mitigation measures. These might include design changes (building orientation, increased setbacks), on-site measures (green walls, advanced ventilation), or off-site contributions towards local air quality management initiatives. Most schemes can be made acceptable with appropriate mitigation.
Which guidance do you follow for air quality assessments?
We follow current best practice guidance including LAQM.TG22 (local air quality management technical guidance), IAQM guidance on construction dust and air quality impacts, and regional policy such as the London Plan where applicable. Our assessments are designed to meet local authority validation requirements and withstand technical scrutiny.
Which guidance do you follow for air quality assessments?
Yes. For schemes requiring Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), we prepare full air quality chapters for environmental statements. These provide comprehensive assessment of construction and operational impacts, cumulative effects with other developments, and detailed mitigation strategies.
Will my assessment support environmental statements for larger developments?
We compare predicted pollutant concentrations at relevant receptor locations against national air quality objectives and, where applicable, EU limit values. For human health receptors, we assess annual mean and short-term objectives. For ecological sites, we evaluate critical loads for nitrogen and acid deposition.
How do you demonstrate compliance with air quality objectives?
Air Quality Assessments Consultants for Planning Applications
Air quality has become a critical consideration in the planning process—particularly for developments in urban areas or those that bring sensitive uses close to roads, rail, or industrial sources. Many sites now require an Air Quality Assessment (AQA) as part of their planning submission, either to demonstrate that future occupants won't be exposed to harmful air pollutants or to evaluate what the proposal will do to existing pollution levels.
We prepare clear, policy-compliant reports that meet the requirements set by local authorities and align with national guidance, helping you move forward with confidence—whether you're at the pre-application stage, submitting a full planning application, or working to discharge a planning condition.
When Do You Need an Air Quality Assessment?
Local authorities typically request an AQA for developments that:
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Introduce new homes near busy roads or within Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)
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Generate additional traffic in areas where air quality is already compromised
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Include plant such as boilers, CHP units, or other combustion equipment requiring environmental permitting
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Need to demonstrate compliance with London Plan policies, including Air Quality Neutral or Positive assessments
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Involve construction activities that present a dust risk to nearby receptors
We'll advise on exactly what scope you need based on your site location, the nature of the proposal, and what the council expects. Where applicable, we can prepare air quality assessments that also support environmental statements for larger schemes.
What's Included in an Air Quality Assessment?
Each air quality assessment is tailored to your specific development and typically includes:
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Baseline air quality review – establishing current pollution levels at and around the site, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM₂.₅)
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Construction dust risk assessment – classifying the dust risk and setting out proportionate mitigation measures in line with IAQM guidance
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Operational air quality impacts – assessing traffic-related emissions and on-site plant to determine impacts on local air quality
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Site suitability appraisal – evaluating whether the location is appropriate for the proposed sensitive uses, considering exposure to air pollutants
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Air Quality Neutral / Positive assessments – demonstrating compliance with London Plan policy requirements
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Mitigation and design recommendations – advising on measures such as mechanical ventilation with filtration, facade orientation, green infrastructure, or low-emission strategies
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Damage cost assessments – calculating financial contributions where offsetting measures are required
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Indoor air quality plans – supporting BREEAM accreditation and best-practice design
We use industry-standard tools and dispersion modelling (where appropriate) to assess compliance with national air quality objectives for human health and, where relevant, ecological receptors at nearby designated sites.
Supporting All Development Types
Our reports support schemes of all scales—from small residential conversions through to major mixed-use or commercial developments. We offer:
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Fast turnaround times with transparent, fixed pricing
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Reports aligned with planning policy, validation checklists, and local plan requirements
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Clear, practical design advice and mitigation recommendations
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Post-submission support if queries arise from the council or planning inspectorate
Whether you're working on a straightforward application or preparing submissions that require input to environmental statements, our team has the expertise to deliver robust, defensible assessments.
Get in Touch
If you need advice on whether an Air Quality Assessment is required for your site, or if you're ready to commission one, we're here to help. We work directly with architects, developers, planning consultants, and local authorities to deliver reports that support successful planning outcomes.
Get in touch to discuss your site and receive a quote.
