During a Local Authority planning permission for a new or update to a residential development, it’s common that your Local Authority will request a noise impact assessment or noise survey if your proposed dwelling is near a noise source such as a busy road, railway line, industrial premises, or entertainment venue. These types of assessments are generally formed under the guidance within British Standard 8233:2014: Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings and the Professional Planning Guidance (ProPG) 2017.
The recently published Acoustics Ventilation and Overheating (AVO) Residential Design Guide guidelines recommend an approach for “good acoustic design” as described in the ProPG. The AVO guide gives detailed guidance regarding the impact of noise ingress under overheating conditions.
Road traffic and rail noise is important for planning purposes for new build developments to make sure the internal noise levels are acceptable. There are recognised standards such as the Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN) and Department of Transport Technical Memorandum Calculation of Rail Noise, 1995 (CRN) which we work to. The noise monitoring procedure set out in CRTN requires that road traffic noise is monitored for a continuous period of three hours on a normal week-day between 10.00 hours and 17.00 hours at a location which is at least 3.5 metres from the nearest kerbside. The 3-hour road traffic noise level measured can then be converted to an 18-hour level.
The aim of a noise assessment is to quantify the baseline noise environment at the proposed site and surrounding area. The potential noise impact on the future occupants of the residential dwelling will be assessed. It is important that noise levels are controlled to an acceptable level both internally and externally, to provide comfortable living and sleeping conditions.
The process of undertaking a planning application noise assessment generally includes:
- Measure the existing noise environment at and around the proposed development.
- Calculation of internal noise levels of dwellings within the development.
- Compare the calculated internal noise level with Local Planning Policy and assess compliance.
- If necessary, provide Mitigation Advice to demonstrate that Local Planning Policy can be met.
To meet guideline noise levels, and if required, we can determine the type of double glazing and ventilation specifications you require based on the results of the noise survey.