Professional Practice Guidance on Planning and Noise – What It Means For Developers

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25 July 2017

Following the recent publication of Professional Practice Guidance on Planning and Noise for New Residential Development (ProPG) by the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and Association of Noise Consultants (ANC),   Surface has prepared this review of the document to highlight what it means for developers of new residential developments.

Implementation of the ProPG will inevitably lead to changes in the way that noise issues are addressed during the design and planning process for new residential developments.   Rather than the current practice of carrying out Noise Impact Assessments when noise is identified as a potential issue, each site should have an Acoustic Risk Assessment (a high-level identification of potential noise issues at the site) and, in most cases, an Acoustic Design Statement which demonstrates how noise issues have been taken into account in the design of the development.

It is recommended that:

• Acoustic specialists are engaged at an earlier stage of the design of a development;
• The Acoustic Risk Assessment is carried out for each development site as early as possible; and
• Interaction between acoustic specialists and designers (architects and/or structural engineers) is increased.

Following the approach recommended in the ProPG is anticipated to provide the following benefits to Developers:

• Greater consistency of approach, leading to faster delivery of new homes;
• Early identification of inappropriate sites, avoiding wasted expenditure;
• A streamlined design and planning process and therefore lower costs for sites with negligible risk;
• With Good Acoustic Design, development may be possible on sites that may previously have been considered unsuitable (higher development costs should be anticipated in areas with higher noise levels); and
• An increased chance of planning consent on appropriate sites.

If you wish to discuss the ProPG in general, or a specific development site, please contact noise@surface-property.co.uk

Please also get in touch if you would be interested in attending a seminar on this topic.

To download a full summary of the guidance, please click on the below link

What ProPG Means for Developers Surface July 2017