Environmental Assessments:

Whether for pre-planning or outline/full planning conditions, we are able to provide a complete service of noise surveys, design advice and technical reports, suitable to be submitted in support of an application. We also provide technical chapters for Environmental Impact Assessments / Statements.

Assessments are generally made against the requirements of the following Standards and Guidelines:

• Planning Policy Guidance 24 (PPG24) ‘Planning and Noise’ – Provides local authority planners with guidance as to whether a site is suitable for residential development on the basis of noise.
• BS 8233: 1999 - 'Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings - Code of Practice' and WHO ‘Guidelines for Community Noise’ – Provides usual assessment criteria in planning conditions for residential internal noise levels and garden space.
• BS 5228: 2009 – ‘Noise and vibration control, Construction and open sites’ – Assessment and control of noise and vibration generated by construction activities on building sites.

We have a good working relationship with a number of local authority Environmental Health Officers, who act as consultees to planners for noise and vibration issues in planning applications. We believe in early liaison with council officers to ensure that suitable methodology and criteria to be assessed against is agreed before surveys are carried out, which prevents costly delays to applications due to lack of information being received.

With many new development sites being situated close to noise generating sources such as major roads and railway lines, it is essential that you receive good advice for the site, building layout, and façade design of buildings to ensure the amenity of occupants is protected. We have considerable experience in surveying and providing technical reports with recommendations for suitable glazing, ventilation and other appropriate noise control measures, which will ensure that the project meets planning needs on noise issues and provides adequate protection for occupants of the finished development.

Principal consultant Martin Loven also has considerable experience with planning requirements for commercial operations, including waste re-cycling sites, mineral extraction sites and service stations, car workshops and car-wash facilities. He has carried out sound power assessments for one of Europe’s largest car-wash equipment manufacturers for their ‘CE’ marking requirements, as well as in-situ noise mapping of their car-wash equipment for planning purposes.