Noise and Vibration Impact Assessments

Noise and vibration impact assessments cover a range of development types.  These can be for noise sensitive, noise generating or both types.  For this reason, noise impact assessments are needed for planning or permit applications.  These will cover sources of sound and vibration:

• Impacting on a proposed noise sensitive development. e.g. rail noise and vibration impacting on a proposed housing site.
• Imposed by a noise generating development. e.g. new plant near to existing houses.

When is an impact assessment required?

Developers and business owners use them in planning applications.  So the impact assessment is part of a pre-development submission.  For approved developments, it can be part of a planning condition.

Noise chapters are used in large scale developments.  These form part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) covered by its own regulations.

An impact assessment can also help any noise and vibration problem.  So it is used by our staff when reviewing issues and complaints.

Furthermore, businesses use impact assessments when applying for, or renewing, an environmental permit. The Government provides specific impact assessment guidance here.  It covers computer modelling or spreadsheet calculations.

What do impact assessments include?

A difference from the existing to proposed.  In other words, a review of a noise or vibration change.

• Monitoring prior to works.  So this can be at noise generating or sensitive sites.
• Calculations of future levels.  This can include environmental noise modelling .
• Prediction of noise and vibration impacts.  So this will be either:
  • Imposed on the proposal.
  • Imposed by the proposal.
• Link impacts to policy, standards and guidance.
• Review of reduction measures for a sustainable development.

What guidance do you use?

There is range of guidance that can be used in noise and vibration impact assessments.  Each looking at different development types, and the source(s) under investigation.

At Sound Solution Consultants we keep up to date with the latest industry standards and guidance.  So our impact assessments will be accepted by the Local Authority.