Dynamic Response understands that Residential and industrial development is happening all of the time with increasing numbers of proposals situated in ‘high noise’ or ‘highly sensitive’ areas. If a new development or change of use is proposed, then planning permission should be obtained from your Local Authority who may review a planning submission with noise as a concern.

For industrial noise, if a material change of use is submitted, the proposed usage may differ greatly from before. An example of this could be old retail shop unit becoming a carpenter's workshop. In this instance the usage of plant and machinery would be producing far greater noise break-out than before whilst also potentially operating outside of normal hours. A Local Planning Authority may ask for a noise impact assessment to be carried out in accordance with the relevant standards, for example, BS 4142: 2014, ‘Method for rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas’ to determine any disruption to nearby residences, before permitting any proposals and developments.

If a new build residential development is submitted, a Local Planning Authority may ask for a noise assessment to be carried out to include the protection of residents from external noise break-in. Such cases might be if the proposed site is near to a railway line, main road or other noise source.

Although withdrawn from publication, some Local Authorities may still request that for residential developments Planning Policy Guidance 24 (PPG24) is used in order to assesses the suitability of a development site by banding the noise impact into noise exposure categories ranging from A – D as seen below:

Category A - ‘Noise need not be considered as a determining factor in granting planning permission.’

Category B - ‘Noise should be taken into account and actions taken to ensure an adequate level of protection against noise.’

Category C - ‘Planning permission should not normally be granted. Where development is permitted, actions should be taken to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise.’

Category D - ‘Planning permission should normally be refused.’

Dynamic Response can provide noise mitigation advice in conjunction with the required noise assessment to demonstrate to a Local Authority that a development that would normally be refused should be accepted.

For both industrial and residential developments, if the noise impact has been considered during the design and submission stages and the acoustics considered, a development may be allowed to happen which would otherwise be deemed unacceptable.

Rest assured, any work undertaken is carried out using modern, fully calibrated instrumentation, working to the correct standards such as BS 8233, BS 4142 and PPG24 etc, with relevant documentation produced showing the results and any advice or mitigation measures required.

We aim to carry out all types of planning application noise assessments from new external industrial equipment to industrial and residential developments. Whatever your requirements are relating to planning conditions and noise, please do not hesitate to contact us.