The role of the Planning Department in controlling noise

All planning applications for development within the Borough are assessed by the Planning Department. Applications for noise sensitive developments or developments that will generate noise are forwarded to the Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance Team for comment and environmental noise impact assessment.

Examples of noise sensitive developments are residential dwellings, hospitals, clinics and schools.
Examples of noisy development are places of entertainment, industrial and commercial sites, and proposals for installation of building services plant.

Noise sensitive developments, particularly residential dwellings, require protection from existing environmental noise and are assessed in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance 24 Planning and Noise (PPG24) issued by the DOE and British Standard 8233:1999. Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings - Code of practice.

For instance a good standard of noise insulation against external noise for residential bedrooms should achieve a level of 30dBLAeg, internally at night.

Noisy developments require assessment and control to ensure noise does not affect the amenity of adjacent residential occupiers. Places of entertainment are assessed using guidance in PPG24 and the Draft Code of Practice for Pubs and Clubs published by the Institute of Acoustics.

It is technically possible to ensure noise breakout from a place of entertainment does not affect adjacent residents. However noise and associated disturbance from activities of patrons external to the premises are not underestimated as a source of disturbance and are also assessed.

Noise from industrial and commercial developments including externally located building services plant shall be designed so as not to increase the existing LA9015min background noise level measured or predicted 1.0m from the nearest residential window or at a height of 1.2m above any adjacent residential garden, terrace, balcony or patio.

Planning applications for the above types of development should be submitted together with a noise survey and report prepared by a competent noise consultant. The report should indicate how the application complies with the above criteria.

Should you be concerned regarding noise impact from new development or proposing a new development and require clarification or information contact the Noise and Nuisance Team and ask to speak to the Specialist Noise Officer who will be happy to help you.

For information see the Institute of Acoustics website www.ioa.org.uk