Planning guidance has changed in recent years. The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE), published in 2010, sets out the Government noise policy. The Noise Policy aims are: “Through the effective management and control of environmental, neighbour and neighbourhood noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable development: avoid significant adverse effects on health and quality of life; mitigate and minimise adverse effects on health and quality of life; and where possible, contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life.” The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in 2012 (this has now been updated in July 2018) states that the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels noise and other aspects.

At Environoise Consulting we are familiar with the legislative nature of planning requirements and can liaise with Local Authority and often referring to the following:

• Noise Policy Statement for England.
• Planning Practice Guidance – Noise.
• BS8233 Guidance on Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings 2014.
• BS4142 Methods for rating and assessing industrial and commercial sound 2014
• IEMA’s guidelines for environmental noise impact assessment 2014.

We can agree survey times and design target in principle so we undertake a noise or vibration survey whether this is a short-attended measurements or unattended noise surveys done at multiple positions for many weeks. Noise prediction software such as Soundplan modelling software means we have the tools to inform the noise impact assessment.