Receptor
A ‘receptor’ is a component of the natural or built environment (such as a human being, water, air, a building or a plant) that is affected by an impact of construction works and/or the operation of a proposed development.
Air quality sensitive receptors are people, property, species or designated sites for nature conservation that may be at risk from exposure to air pollutants potentially arising as a result of a proposed development.
Ref The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement, Glossary of terms and list of abbreviations, DETR 2013.
NB Culvert, screen and outfall manual, (CIRIA C786) published by CIRIA in 2019, defines a receptor as: ‘The entity, such as a person, property or habitat, which may be harmed by an event via a source and pathway. The vulnerability of a receptor can be reduced by increasing resilience.’
Guidance on the code of practice for property flood resilience, published by CIRIA in 2021, defines a receptor as: ‘The entity that may be harmed by a particular hazard (eg a person, property, habitat). For example, in the event of heavy rainfall (source) floodwater may propagate across the flood plain (pathway) and inundate a buildings (receptor) that may suffer material damage (the harm or consequence).’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Stakeholder.
- Early BREEAM stakeholder engagement.
- Community engagement in conservation.
- Consultation process.
- Interface risk in construction.
- Non-statutory consultees.
- Stakeholder map.
- Stakeholder management.
- Statutory authorities.
- Third party dependencies.
- User panels.
- Environmental impact assessment EIA.
- Ecological Impact Assessment EcIA.
- Regulatory Impact Assessment.
Featured articles and news
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Why talking about prostate cancer matters in construction.
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.