Air Quality Consultants in London
Air Quality Consultants in London Delivering Professional Air Quality Assessments, Monitoring, and Management for Cleaner Air and Planning Success.
Air Quality Consultants - London Boroughs
Air quality is a critical concern for developers, planners, and residents alike across London. With its dense population, high levels of traffic, and active construction sector, the capital experiences some of the worst pollution levels in the UK. In this complex urban environment, the expertise of professional air quality consultants is essential.
At ACP Consultants Ltd, we are a leading London environmental consultancy specialising in air quality assessment services, supporting a wide range of planning and development projects across all London councils. From early-stage screening to detailed dispersion modelling and mitigation advice, our team provides a trusted, data-led service grounded in both science and planning policy.
Whether you’re working in Westminster, Croydon, Islington, Southwark, Camden or other boroughs, we help you navigate the complexities of air quality regulations and secure approvals.
Why Air Quality Matters in London
Air pollution poses a significant risk to human health, especially in cities like London. The capital continues to experience elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), two pollutants strongly linked to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, reduced life expectancy, and impacts on vulnerable populations including children and the elderly.
In recent years, the Mayor of London has introduced measures such as the Ultra Low Emission and Emission Zone schemes to tackle poor air quality across every London borough. These initiatives form part of a wider clean air strategy designed to protect residents and reduce health inequalities. For many developments, local air quality assessments are required by the local authority to ensure projects align with these policies and do not worsen existing conditions.
The dominant source of pollution is road traffic, but other contributors include construction dust and air quality impacts, industrial emissions, and domestic heating. The health effects are so widespread that public health air quality considerations are now a statutory part of urban planning, particularly in areas designated as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), which cover most London boroughs. There are a number of good practices and initiatives across London supported by a range of businesses and industries to actively improve local air quality.
As air quality consultants, we work at the interface of environmental health, urban planning, and engineering. Our role is to ensure that new developments are assessed, mitigated, and managed to prevent further degradation of local air quality and to protect both future occupants and the surrounding residential amenity.
What Is an AQA?
An air quality assessment (AQA) is a technical report prepared to evaluate the impact of a proposed development on local air pollutant levels and to determine whether occupants will be exposed to harmful concentrations. It is required for many planning applications and is especially critical in:
-Urban centres with high traffic volumes
-Sites near industrial or combustion sources
-Residential or sensitive uses such as schools, hospitals, or care homes
Our assessments include air pollution assessment, dispersion modelling, and a review of policy compliance with national and local air quality regulations. As a result, clients gain a clearer understanding of both current and projected air quality impacts, and what steps are needed to address them.
Our Air Quality Assessment Services
At ACP, we offer a full spectrum of air quality assessment services for planning purposes. Our work begins with a detailed modelling assessment based on site layout, traffic data, and background emissions, typically using industry standard tools such as ADMS-Roads.
Where required, we conduct continuous air quality monitoring or deploy diffusion tubes to establish an accurate pollution baseline. This helps inform our predictive modelling and allows us to recommend proportionate mitigation strategies where exceedances are likely.
Each air quality assessment we deliver is tailored to the borough’s planning requirements, whether in Haringey, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, or Barking and Dagenham. Our reporting style is concise, policy-aware, and focused on getting your project through planning with minimal delay.
We also provide specialist services including odour impact assessment, air quality neutral assessment, Simple Calculation of Atmospheric Impact Limits (SCAIL) assessment, air quality positive statement, habitat regulations assessment for air quality, dispersion modelling, construction dust risk assessment, indoor air quality assessment, air quality damage cost analysis, traffic microsimulation modelling for air quality, and combined noise and air quality impact assessment from traffic. We can also deliver other bespoke air quality studies tailored to unique project requirements.
Air Quality Consultants Across All London Boroughs
London’s planning landscape is diverse. Each borough has its own local plan, with specific policies related to air quality management. We have extensive experience working in every part of the capital, including: City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.
Our borough-specific knowledge enables us to align assessments with each council’s validation checklist and technical guidance, which is especially important where objections or conditions might arise from local authorities or environmental health officers.
Supporting Urban AQ Management
In a city as vast and congested as London, effective urban air quality management requires the expertise of experienced environmental professionals. We don’t just measure pollution; we help shape strategies to reduce it.
ACP Consultants supports local councils, developers, and design teams in crafting evidence-led approaches that integrate air pollution control measures into the built environment. This includes advising on:
-Site layout to reduce vehicle exposure
-Incorporation of green infrastructure
-Design of ventilation systems in high-exposure zones
-Selecting low-emission plant and vehicles during construction
We also deliver Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs) and help discharge planning conditions related to construction dust and air quality.
AQ Data Analysis and Modelling
Our reputation is built on robust, scientifically validated air quality data analysis. Using real-world monitoring combined with detailed traffic forecasts, our modelling predicts pollutant concentrations at sensitive receptor points across a site, ensuring reliable, decision-grade evidence.
This modelling helps our clients understand the true risk to human health, supports mitigation design, and allows decision-makers to approve projects with confidence. Whether assessing the impacts of traffic flow in Enfield or quantifying exposure near schools in Lewisham, our assessments are built on the best available data.
Indoor Air Quality Consultant Services
While much focus is placed on external air quality, the importance of internal environments cannot be overstated. As an indoor air quality consultant, ACP Consultants also advises on ventilation strategies, air filtration, and layout design to protect occupants from ingress of external pollution.
This is increasingly relevant for residential developments near busy roads or commercial schemes with mechanical ventilation systems. In such cases, protecting health and ecosystems means addressing both external and internal exposures in the planning and design phase.
Climate Change and Air Quality
The link between climate change and air quality is becoming increasingly recognised in planning and environmental governance. Measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions, such as electric vehicle infrastructure and active travel design can also deliver co-benefits for local air quality.
At ACP, we promote an integrated approach. Our assessments consider not only short-term compliance with air quality regulations but long-term resilience to changes in emissions patterns. We aim to futureproof developments against tightening standards and shifting public expectations.
Why Choose ACP Consultants?
As one of the most established air quality consultants in London, ACP Consultants Ltd. combines deep regulatory knowledge with technical excellence. Our cross-disciplinary team supports a wide range of clients, from national housebuilders and infrastructure providers to small developers navigating borough-specific policies.
We are known for:
-Reliable, fast-turnaround reports
-Planning-led consultancy with scoping engagement when needed with the local authority
-High success rates for complex or sensitive applications
-Support across air, noise, ecology, and land contamination
Our work protects both public health air quality and our clients’ investments. Whether you need air quality assessments, air quality monitoring, or specialist air quality management advice to meet local authority requirements, we can help. We also provide guidance on compliance with Ultra Low Emission and Emission Zone policies set by the Mayor of London, ensuring your development contributes to a clean air future across every London borough.
Get in touch today to discuss your project and secure the expert support you need for planning success.
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- Last Updated:
- October 2025