Air Quality Assessment

Poor air quality is increasingly recognised as a critical issue across the UK, affecting health, wellbeing, and planning decisions. Development proposals are now subject to greater scrutiny, with planning or permitting consent potentially refused on air quality grounds. A comprehensive Air Quality Assessment not only ensures regulatory compliance but also strengthens your planning application, helping to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Air Quality Assessments for Planning

Air Quality Assessments are a key component of the UK planning process, providing clear, evidence-based analysis to demonstrate compliance with national and local air quality objectives. By evaluating potential impacts from construction, traffic, energy use, and dust generation, these assessments help protect both future occupants and neighbouring communities while supporting successful planning approvals.

Typically, Air Quality Assessments comprise analysis of three main elements. These are:

• Potential exposure of future occupiers to harmful pollution levels.
• The impact of emissions from vehicles travelling to and from the scheme.
• The impact of dust emissions generated during construction.

A robust Air Quality Assessment considers both existing baseline conditions and the potential for future change, offering practical recommendations to minimise emissions and exposure. This can include the use of mitigation measures such as dust control during construction, sustainable transport planning, and low-emission design principles. Through early engagement with planning authorities and environmental regulators, assessments can streamline the approval process and demonstrate a proactive approach to environmental responsibility.

Air Quality Assessment Services

Our air quality experts specialise in all aspects of air quality consultancy. Those relating to UK planning include:

• Assessment & Modelling: Air Quality Assessments in support of planning applications, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Dispersion Modelling Assessments, Odour Assessments, Air Quality Impact Assessments, Ambient Air Quality Monitoring.
• Emissions Control & Mitigation: Construction Dust Risk Assessments and Management Plans, Construction Dust Monitoring, Low Emissions Strategies, Air Quality Neutral Assessments, Air Quality Positive Statements, Air Quality Damage Costs Assessments.
• Specialist Services: Air Quality Constraints and Screening Opinions, Expert Witness and planning appeal/ public inquiry.

We have experience of assisting developers throughout the planning process. From initial Site Constraints Assessments and Options Appraisals to support land allocations through Local Plan submissions, through Air Quality Assessments for planning applications and to address conditions, all the way to Expert Witness provision for appeals and public inquiries. We are able to input for the duration of the project lifecycle, advising the best and most sustainable way to achieve agreed outcomes.

Additional Services

Our air quality consultants also have expertise in the following areas:

• Industrial Emissions Consultancy: Bioaerosol Risk Assessments, Air Quality Assessments in support of Environmental Permit applications, Dust and Odour Management Plans, D1 Stack Height Assessments, Complaint investigation.
• Air Quality Monitoring: Ambient Air Quality Monitoring, BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Assessments, Indoor Air Quality Assessments.
• Odour: Kitchen Odour Assessments.
• Public Sector: Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) reporting and Detailed Assessments, Emissions Inventories, Peer Reviews
• Ecological and Ammonia Assessments.

As one of the largest specialist air quality consultancies in the UK, our team has extensive experience supporting a wide variety of schemes, both throughout the UK and internationally. We can use this knowledge to identify the most appropriate solution for your project, developing a bespoke Air Quality Impact Assessment to address your site specific needs. This can include dispersion modelling as well as monitoring, with all services delivered by our in-house team. The approach ensures control of the assessment process throughout the project, as well as safeguarding levels of quality assurance.

Whether your proposal involves residential development, commercial premises, transport infrastructure or industrial operations, our team can provide clear, practical advice to guide you through the planning process. We work closely with developers, architects and local authorities to present technical findings in a way that is accessible and planning-focused, ensuring your assessment meets all relevant policy requirements. By combining scientific expertise with a detailed understanding of planning frameworks, we help you achieve a compliant and defensible outcome that supports timely project delivery.

Why Undertake an Air Quality Assessment?

Air quality affects us all, with different pollutants causing a multitude of health effects. This has been recognised though various legislative acts, which in turn influence both national and local planning policy, as well as industrial permitting regulations. These have lead to a requirement for Air Quality Impact Assessments in support of development proposals in many locations, both urban and rural. As well as focussing on development related impacts, such as dust release during construction or vehicle exhaust emissions during operation, these can also consider how future users of the site may be exposed to high pollution levels.

Redmore Environmental provide a pragmatic approach to air quality consultancy. This ensures the best possible outcome for our clients whilst addressing all necessary legislative and policy requirements. We use a wide variety of analytical techniques to produce multi-faceted assessments to solve your particular problems and have a detailed understanding of the relevant industry guidance, including:

• Environmental Protection UK (EPUK) and the Institute for Air Quality Management (IAQM) ‘Guidance on land-use planning and development control: Planning for air quality’
• IAQM ‘Guidance on the Assessment of Mineral Dust Impacts for Planning’
• IAQM ‘Guidance on the Assessment of Dust from Demolition and Construction’
• Greater London Authority ‘Control of Dust and Emissions Supplementary Planning Guidance’
• Mayor of London ‘London Plan Guidance: Air Quality Positive‘
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ‘LAQM Technical Guidance LAQM.TG22‘

Atmospheric Emission Experts

Redmore Environmental’s specialist nature guarantees our dedicated team can work with you to produce the most appropriate air quality report for your site. In addition, our understanding of the planning and permitting regimes can help submissions satisfy all requirements first time and avoid costly delays due to lack of information.

We have been involved in diverse projects, from small scale residential sites in dense urban locations through large retail and multi-disciplinary town centre redevelopments to heavy industry and mineral extraction. This knowledge can now be used on your project to provide robust and timely air quality consultancy advice.

Some examples of our successfully delivered projects include the following, follow the links for detailed information:

• Broad Street, Birmingham
• Heathrow Marriot Hotel, London
• Thoresby Colliery, Edwinstowe
• Clifton Business Park, Brighouse
• New Hey Road, Huddersfield
• White City, London
• Station Road, West Drayton
• Magdalen Street, Colchester
• Close Lane, Alsager
• Portland Street, Manchester
• Blackfriars Street, Salford

Regional Air Quality Assessments

Regional Air Quality Assessments are crucial for understanding and managing air pollution and its impacts on health and the environment. These projects typically involve the systematic collection and analysis of air quality data from various sources, including ground monitoring stations, Government databases and modelling techniques. By evaluating key pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Air Quality Assessments provide insights into pollution sources, patterns and trends over time. This information is vital to inform planning teams, as it helps to develop effective mitigation and strategies aimed at improving air quality. Ultimately, these assessments are a cornerstone for promoting sustainable practices and enhancing public health, driving initiatives that lead to cleaner air and a healthier environment for all.

Our consultants provide regional Air Quality Assessments across the UK, tailored to local conditions and regulatory requirements. Using monitoring data, modelling, and site-specific analysis, we assess potential impacts for towns and cities nationwide, including:

• Air Quality Assessments in Birmingham.
• Air Quality Assessments in Bristol.
• Air Quality Assessments in Dundee.
• Air Quality Assessments in Edinburgh.
• Air Quality Assessments in Glasgow.
• Air Quality Assessments in Leeds.
• Air Quality Assessments in Liverpool.
• Air Quality Assessments in London.
• Air Quality Assessments in Manchester.
• Air Quality Assessments in Newcastle.
• Air Quality Assessments in Norwich.
• Air Quality Assessments in Nottingham.
• Air Quality Assessments in Sheffield.

View our regional Air Quality Assessment pages by following the links above to see how we can support your project in your area.

Contact Us

Ready to ensure your project meets air quality standards? Contact our expert team today to discuss your requirements, request a quote, or arrange a consultation. Our in-house specialists will guide you through the assessment process and provide practical recommendations to support your planning application.