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If you are planning a new housing development, particularly in a noisy area, the local authority may require a PPG24 noise assessment to be submitted with your planning application. Planning Policy Guidance 24 “Planning and Noise” (PPG24) outlines considerations to be taken into account in determining planning applications for noise-sensitive developments near transport-related noise sources. It defines four Noise Exposure Categories (NECs): |
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| • NEC A | Noise need not be considered as a determining factor in granting planning permission, although the noise level at the high end of the category should not be regarded as a desirable level. |
| • NEC B | Noise should be taken into account when determining planning applications and, where appropriate, conditions imposed to ensure an adequate level of protection against noise. |
| • NEC C | Planning permission should not normally be granted. Where it is considered that permission should be given, for example because there are no alternative quieter sites available, conditions should be imposed to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise. |
| • NEC D | Planning permission should normally be refused. |
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A recommended range of noise levels is given for each of the NECs for dwellings exposed to noise from road, rail, air, and "mixed sources". Different levels are set for daytime and night-time periods. If your development falls into NEC B or NEC C, you may need to upgrade the building envelope, for instance by using better glazing or silenced ventilation, to achieve reasonable noise levels indoors. We can of course advise on this as part of our assessment. |
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