AcoustiTest™ Planning Application Support & Environmental Impact Assessments
With few exceptions, there is no absolute legal limit for noise or vibration; there’s considerable variation between different local authorities and acousticians. Our Government-advocated approach protects those who may be affected by noise or vibration and minimizes the costs of compliance.
How Does It Work for Planning & Development?
Establish Appropriate Levels of Noise and Vibration: We usually begin by conducting an acoustic survey and assessment referring to appropriate guidance such as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE), BS4142:2014 and BS8233:2014.
Develop A Plan To Achieve Appropriate Levels: This depends greatly upon the specific characteristics of the proposed development, often relying on appropriate selection, location, orientation and possibly attenuation for new sources of noise, or the design, layout and other mitigation for sensitive receptors.
Negotiation: To agree upon a suitable, mutually acceptable level, we’ll negotiate with local authorities and other relevant decision makers.
Complete the Acoustic Planning Application Support/ Environmental Impact Assessment: Our report will cover the reasons for the selection of the acoustic criteria, the sound levels that will be produced, and how the criteria will be achieved.
How Does It Work for Compliance Monitoring?
There are several reasons why you may wish or need to carry out periodic monitoring of sound or vibration levels. This may be a legal requirement to demonstrate compliance with a permit or licence; to verify that your management/ control systems are functioning correctly; or to demonstrate good performance to others such as neighbouring residents.
Any compliance monitoring should ensure that valid locations are used to measure suitable parameters at an appropriate time interval. For example, if activity remains relatively consistent/ predictable throughout the year there is probably no benefit in carrying out quarterly monitoring. Similarly measurement locations and parameters should be selected to enable the sound level to be quantified at the locations of interest (which may not be the measurement locations) whilst minimising extraneous noise and the uncertainty that is included with any measurement data.
Acoustical Control Consultants has extensive experience of undertaking appropriate monitoring and assessment for Planning & Development applications or Permit & Licence compliance; assisting our Clients to obtain valid, representative data in the most cost effective manner.
Planning, Development, Licensing Permits
Acoustic assessments can underpin proposed developments, assisting with proposed layouts and providing advice for design, specification and construction. A suitable acoustic assessment is likely to be required to support a planning application and may be required post construction to verify that the required performance has been achieved.
If planning permission is refused or unacceptable conditions are imposed it may be appropriate to negotiate with the local authority or to appeal the refusal.
Ongoing compliance monitoring and assessment is often required for licenced activities and as part of permits.
Acoustical Control Consultants has extensive experience of providing high calibre acoustic support for all aspects of planning, development, licencing and permits including:
- Compliance Monitoring
- Environmental Impact Assessments
- Planning Appeals & Public Inquiries
- Planning Application Support
- Plant Selection Assessments