welborne plan environmental noise assessment · 2014. 1. 31. · welborne plan environmental noise...

REP-1005016-BRD-310114-1 Rev B

WELBORNE PLAN

Environmental Noise Assessment

WELBORNE PLAN Environmental Noise Assessment

REP-1005016-BRD-310114-1 Rev B

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Audit Sheet

Revision Description Date Issued by Reviewed by

Final Issue REP-1005016-BRD-180114-1 18 January 2014 BRD TH/BRD

Rev A REP-1005016-BRD-210114-1 21 January 2014 BRD BRD

Rev B REP-1005016-BRD-310114-1 31 January 2014 BRD BRD

This report is provided for the stated purposes and for the sole use of the named Client. It will be confidential to the Client and the client’s professional advisers. Hoare Lea accepts responsibility to the Client alone that the report has been prepared with the skill, care and diligence of a competent engineer, but accepts no responsibility whatsoever to any parties other than the Client. Any such parties rely upon the report at their own risk. Neither the whole nor any part of the report nor reference to it may be included in any published document, circular or statement nor published in any way without Hoare Lea’s written approval of the form and content in which it may

appear.


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Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Proposed Development Description ...................................................................... 1 3.0 Basis of Assessment ............................................................................................. 2

3.1 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 2012 ........................................... 2 3.2 Noise Policy Statement for England, 2010 ......................................................... 3 3.3 BS 8223: 1999 Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings ................. 4 3.4 World Health Organisation Guidelines, 2000 ...................................................... 4 3.5 Building Bulletin 93: 2003 Acoustic Design of Schools – A Design Guide .......... 4

4.0 Environmental Noise Survey.................................................................................. 5 5.0 Noise Maps ............................................................................................................ 8 6.0 Noise Constraints Map ........................................................................................ 10 7.0 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................. 13 8.0 School Buildings Strategy .................................................................................... 15 Appendices Appendix A: Photographs of Noise Monitoring Locations Appendix B: Time History Charts for Noise Monitoring Locations


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1.0 Introduction

Fareham Borough Council is preparing the Welborne Plan to facilitate the development of 6,000 new homes, employment areas, schools, transport infrastructure, community facilities and open green space. The Publication Draft Plan proposes a boundary for the development and is supported by a Strategic Framework Diagram which provides a visual depiction of the character, capacity and constraints of the site, as well as the broad distribution of land uses and the extent of the site area necessary to provide the required scale of the development. It provides a clear basis for a more 'comprehensive masterplan' that will be developed by the site promoters to accompany future planning applications. In the Draft Welborne Plan, this was referred to as the ‘Concept Masterplan’. An environmental noise assessment of the site is required to inform the strategic framework plan and where necessary, to develop a noise mitigation strategy.

2.0 Proposed Development Description

The Core Strategy established a broad ‘area of search’ within which Welborne would be located. This area covers approximately 442 hectares of mainly open countryside located to the north of Fareham. The village of Funtley lies to the south west, with the village of Knowle to the west, and Wickham a mile to the north. Figure 1 shows the area of search for Welborne. The site is currently predominantly used for arable farming with some light industrial and commercial buildings. There are also farmsteads, a few isolated residential properties and an independent preparatory school, called Boundary Oak School, at Roche Court.


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Figure 1: Area of Search for Welborne

3.0 Basis of Assessment

3.1 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 2012

The NPPF was published on 27 March 2012 and sets out the Government’s economic,

environmental and social planning policies for England. It attempts to summarise in a

single document all previous national planning policy advice. Taken together, these

policies articulate the Government’s vision of sustainable development, which should be

interpreted and applied locally to meet local aspirations.

The NPPF sets out the Government’s requirements for the planning system only to the

extent that it is relevant, proportionate and necessary to do so. It provides a framework

within which local people and their accountable councils can produce their own

distinctive local and neighbourhood plans, which reflect the needs and priorities of their

communities.

Under ‘Section 11 - Conserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment’, the following

is stated:

“The planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local

environment by:


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• preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at

unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air,

water or noise pollution or land instability.”

The document goes on to state:

“Planning policies and decisions should aim to:

• avoid noise from giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and

quality of life as a result of new development;

• mitigate and reduce to a minimum other adverse impacts on health and

quality of life arising from noise from new development, including through the

use of conditions;

• recognise that development will often create some noise and existing

businesses wanting to develop in continuance of their business should not

have unreasonable restrictions put on them because of changes in nearby

land uses since they were established; and

• identify and protect areas of tranquillity which have remained relatively

undisturbed by noise and are prized for their recreational and amenity value

for this reason.”

As stated above, this document makes reference to avoiding noise generation from new

developments that would adversely impact on healthy and quality of life. The NPPF

supersedes the previous noise guidance provided in Planning Policy Guidance 24 (PPG

24), but does not set absolute criteria.

3.2 Noise Policy Statement for England, 2010

The underlying principles and aims of existing noise policy documents, legislation and

guidance are clarified in DEFRA: 2010: Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSfE).

The NPSfE sets out the ‘Long Term Vision’ of Government noise policy as follows:

“Promote good health and good quality of life through the effective management of

noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable development.”

The NPSE outlines three aims for the effective management and control of

environmental, neighbour and neighbourhood noise:

• “Avoid significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life;

• Mitigate and minimise adverse impacts on health and quality of life; and

• Where possible, contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life”.


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The guidance states that it is not possible to have a single objective noise-based

measure that defines ‘Significant Observed Adverse Effect Level (SOAEL)’ that is

applicable to all sources of noise in all situations and that not having specific SOAEL

values in the NPSE provides the necessary policy flexibility until further evidence and

suitable guidance is available.

3.3 BS 8223: 1999 Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings

BS 8223 considers noise control in and around buildings on an objective and

quantifiable basis as far as is currently possible. For many common situations, the code

offers guidance on suitable internal noise levels for dwellings to facilitate good and

reasonable resting and sleeping conditions. It is noted that these criteria are based on

satisfying the majority of the population accounting for noise normally occurring

externally including road and rail traffic, but excluding sources such as emergency

vehicle sirens and train horns.

3.4 World Health Organisation Guidelines, 2000

The WHO Guidelines for Community Noise provides guidance of a similar nature to BS

8233, although it places more emphasis on the potential health effects associated with

noise.

Specifically, the document recommends internal and external noise levels that would

provide an acoustic environment that is conducive to uninterrupted speech and sleep.

Daytime noise limits aim to prevent the majority of the population being moderately or

seriously annoyed by noise, whereas night-time noise limits are intended to ensure a

good night’s sleep.

3.5 Building Bulletin 93: 2003 Acoustic Design of Schools – A Design Guide

Building Bulletin 93 (BB 93) provides a regulatory framework for the acoustic design of

schools in support of the Building Regulations.

BB 93 provides performance standards suitable to provide acoustic conditions in

schools that facilitate clear communication of speech between teachers and students,

and that do not interfere with study activities.


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4.0 Environmental Noise Survey

An environmental noise survey of the proposed development area was undertaken so that a noise map could be produced. The information acquired through the acquisition of noise measurements was used to calibrate a noise model to enable an accurate noise map, as far as reasonably possible to be produced. The noise survey was undertaken over the period Thursday 11 July through to Wednesday 17 July 2013. Weather conditions were ideal with warm dry weather and no or slight wind speeds throughout the measurement period. The noise survey consisted of 5 noise monitoring locations continuously recording noise levels (LAeq, LAmax, LA90 etc.) located across the proposed development site. The measurement locations are shown in Figures 2 and 3 and photographs of each noise monitoring location in Appendix A. The time history charts are shown in Appendix B. The rationale for the noise monitoring locations is as follows:

• Location 1. As close as reasonably possible to A32/M27 junction.

• Location 2. This location will have an unobstructed view of the M27 and will provide a good reference point for the noise map of this road source. It is set back and has a good angle of view of the road.

• Location 3. This location will determine the noise level at a location more screened from the M27 and provide information about the nearby railway running along the western boundary.

• Location 4. Provides information about the A32 as the dominant source at this location.

• Location 5. A location just north of Knowle Road which will be unaffected by M27 and a reference for both A32 and Knowle Road noise levels.


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Figure 2: Noise Monitoring Locations A number of short-term attended measurement locations were selected and are shown in Figure 3. The noise levels are shown as LAeq,10min / LA90,10min These were selected to supplement the long-term noise monitoring locations and were undertaken between 14:00 – 16:30 on 15th July and between 10:00 – 12:30 on 17th July 2013.

2 1

3

4

5


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Figure 3: Attended Measurement Locations and Noise levels (LAeq / LA90) (red/black)


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5.0 Noise Maps

The information obtained from the comprehensive noise survey was used in the production of noise maps. Noise maps for the M27, A32 and railway have been produced with a combined noise map shown in Figures 4 and 5 for the daytime and night-time periods respectively.

Figure 4: Daytime Noise Map (LAeq, 16hour)


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Figure 5: Night-time Noise Map (LAeq, 8hour) An assessment of Figures 4 and 5 suggests residential development could be accommodated in most areas (such as the grey and orange areas during the daytime and grey and yellow areas at night). The darker red area (>65dBA) during daytime and bright red (>60dBA) during night-time are not ideal for external amenity, as they exceed WHO guidelines. However, building facades (glazed and non-glazed elements) can readily reduce the external noise levels


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to acceptable levels of internal noise within habitable rooms. Thus, whilst the external noise levels would be considered above WHO guidelines, it may be possible to consider appropriate development whereby the ground level external amenity is well screened and upper floors can be provided with adequate building elevations. Orientation of residential buildings such that rear gardens are shielded from noise generated by the M27 and A32 can provide differences of between 10-15dBA. Thus, a building elevation exposed to noise levels of 60-65dBA due to road traffic noise is likely to be exposed to noise levels of 50-55dBA on the opposite side of the building. This is partly demonstrated by existing dwellings particularly to the south of the M27 and in the area of Funtley Road. The area of land to the south of the M27 is perhaps most limited for residential development using traditional detached or semi-detached properties but could possibly be suitable for terraced or multi-occupancy buildings (flats, apartments). However, the Strategic Framework Diagram proposes no residential development for this area south of the M27.

6.0 Noise Constraints Map

Based on the noise survey and noise maps it is possible to produce a noise constraints map. This identifies where residential development could be constructed without further acoustic mitigation beyond the orientation of the building itself to protect the external amenity. The suggested upper daytime noise limit at which residential development should not be constructed is considered to be LAeq,16hour 63dB. This is shown in Figure 6. Night-time noise levels are typically 5dB lower and the same constraints map would also apply at night. This does not mean that residential could not be built in an area exceeding 63dB(A) but strategically we consider this to be the appropriate upper daytime noise limit. The noise constraints map has been developed before any additional acoustic screening / mitigation, such as earth bunds / acoustic barriers etc. The Strategic Framework Diagram (SFD) including the noise constraint (shown as a bashed yellow line) is provided in Figure 7. It can be seen that employment areas have been proposed in locations where the highest noise levels occur and this is sensible.


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Figure 6: Noise Constraints Map (daytime LAeq 63dB)

63dB(A) noise constraint

Area where residential should not be constructed

KEY


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Figure 7: Welborne Strategic Framework Diagram including Noise Constraint


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7.0 Mitigation Measures

The SFD shows some residential areas to fall outside of the noise constraint set out in this report. These are notably east of the A32 (north of Pook Lane) and also along both sides of the A32. To enable residential development to be located to the north side of Pook Lane will require acoustic screening to be implemented to reduce the levels of noise associated with the M27 to acceptable levels. A noise barrier which is approximately 4 metres above the level of the M27 at the location shown in Figure 8 (solid blue line) or a barrier which is 4m above the local ground level (solid red line) is required. The use of a barrier as described will move the noise constraint nearer to the M27 as shown by the dashed yellow line in Figure 8.

Figure 8: Location of Acoustic Barrier (solid blue or red line) The barrier could consist of anything that is solid in structure and provides a minimum mass per unit area of 20 kg/m2. An earth bund or combination of earth bund and fencing would seem a sensible approach. Other general guidance is provided in Figure 9.


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Figure 9: Traffic Noise Barriers - Generic Best Practice (extract from BB93) To enable residential to be located either side of the A32, particularly on the west between the District Centre and the Knowle Road roundabout, the following guidance is provided. Where residential frontage is located facing the A32, it should be possible to locate the facade at a distance of 15-20 metres from the nearest edge of the roadside. This is based on the existing roadside hedging remaining in place or replaced with something equivalent.


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8.0 School Buildings Strategy

Siting school buildings including external teaching spaces is discussed in Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) and is the current UK design guidance for schools. Schools located adjacent to busy roads will require the use of intelligent design, zoning, acoustic screening and mechanical ventilation. These considerations are regularly utilised in the design of schools and the following recommendations are considered sensible when siting new schools.

• For new schools, 60dB LAeq,30min should be regarded as an upper limit for external noise at the boundary of external premises used for formal and informal outdoor

teaching, and recreational areas.

• When noise levels are higher than 60dB LAeq,30min, simple natural ventilation solutions may not be appropriate.

• Noise levels in playgrounds, playing fields and other outdoor areas should not exceed 55dB LAeq,30min and there should be at least one area suitable for outdoor

teaching activities where noise levels are below 50dB LAeq,30min.

• Noise from schools to the surrounding area can also be a problem, and consideration should be given to nearby residential and other noise sensitive

developments which could be disturbed by playgrounds, playing fields etc.

On the basis of the above guidance all proposed schools should be located within the purple zone shown in Figure 10. Noise levels within this zone are expected to be no higher than 60dB LAeq,30min. External spaces used for teaching and playing fields should be located within the 55dB LAeq,30min criterion. This is identified by the dashed white line. The design of the school buildings will require further analysis at the planning application stage however, the proposed locations are shown to fall within the area below 60dB LAeq,30min and two of the three schools below 55dB LAeq,30min. The primary school proposed to be adjacent to the District Centre is located within the area that exceeds 55dB LAeq,30min. Orientation of school buildings to provide acoustic screening of the main transportation links is expected to provide an external area below 55dB LAeq,30min.


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Figure 10: Highlighted Area considered suitable for future School Buildings


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APPENDICES


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Appendix A: Photographs of Noise Logging Meter Locations

Location 1 Location 2 Location 3

Location 4 Location 5


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Appendix B: Time History Charts for Noise Monitoring Locations

Location 1

Location 2

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Location 3

Location 4

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Location 5

1.0 Introduction 12.0 Proposed Development Description 13.0 Basis of Assessment 23.1 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 2012 23.2 Noise Policy Statement for England, 2010 33.3 BS 8223: 1999 Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings 43.4 World Health Organisation Guidelines, 2000 43.5 Building Bulletin 93: 2003 Acoustic Design of Schools – A Design Guide 4

4.0 Environmental Noise Survey 55.0 Noise Maps 86.0 Noise Constraints Map 107.0 Mitigation Measures 138.0 School Buildings Strategy 15

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