Current parliamentary and policy news

Mary Stevens supports the IOA to bring acoustics to the attention of policy makers, and in this article, she outlines the most recent responses the IOA has made to encourage effective noise management decisions that are balanced with societal needs.

National Planning Policy Framework
The IOA have responded to the consultation on the revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for England and wider planning policy. Our response states that the main noise management policies in place within the NPPF do work, advising that to be effective they must be implemented properly. In responding, we take the opportunity to draw attention to the work of the IOA and partner professional organisations to strike the balance between effective noise management and other societal needs, including producing guidance documents to promote good practice and good acoustic design, which includes the Acoustics, Ventilation and Overheating – Residential Design Guide, published with the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC). In addition, by the end of the year, the IOA and ANC expect to publish Approved Document O – a Noise Guide, to assist practitioners with the implementation of the overheating mitigation requirements. The IOA believe that following the guidance in both these documents would improve the quality of new homes, and urge government to add them to the reference list in the Planning Practice Guidance on Noise. Overall, our response reminds government that over 20 years ago, a Labour Secretary of State for the Environment described noise as the ‘Cinderella pollutant’, and that some would argue that this is still the case today. This includes the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee who described noise as the “neglected pollutant” in their recent report. We offer our support in addressing this. Full response: https://www.ioa.org.uk/publications/response-consultations

National Highways report noise mitigation 2023-24
National Highways have published their annual report covering 2023- 24, which includes an update on programmed noise mitigation works in England, stating: ‘We want our roads to work more harmoniously with the communities that live alongside them, and the built, natural and historic environments that surround them.’ They have a KPI to reduce noise for 7,500 households in noise important areas as identified by Defra noise mapping, during the second road period 2020-25. The report states that during the last year road noise was mitigated for 990 households – exceeding their target of 829 for the year. Mitigation measures included noise barriers alongside junctions 21a to 26 of the M6 which supported 412 households, low noise road surfacing on the A27 at Portfield benefitting 128 households, and noise insulation in the form of acoustic glazing and ventilation were provided for 450 homes. At the time of reporting work has been undertaken covering 5,197 households of the 7,500 targeted for noise mitigation work by 2025. The work is funded by their environment and wellbeing fund. Read the National Highways 2024 annual report here: https://tinyurl.com/NHannualreport

Ireland: Dublin area noise action plan
The City of Dublin and adjoining councils have produced a noise action plan for 2024-28 in line with requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (END). The action plan is underpinned by a noise policy statement pledging a strategic approach to managing environmental noise. The principles of the statement are prevention of increasing the number of people exposed to undesirable levels of noise; protection of quiet and tranquil areas and mitigation of noise levels where they are potentially harmful. Noise maps have been used to identify priority areas for noise management and Candidate Quiet Areas. In acknowledging that most complaints about noise are usually related to local issues such as noises caused by neighbours, entertainment or construction, Dublin City Council’s section of the plan includes measures to address local noise nuisances and complaints along with planning and development issues. Read the Dublin Agglomeration Noise Action Plan here: https://tinyurl.com/DublinEND

Wales: Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024
The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (the Act) establishes a single infrastructure consenting process for specified types of major infrastructure projects in Wales. A final consultation now covers the new consent regime, which, Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans says “provides a transparent, consistent and simple, yet rigorous process which enables local communities and stakeholders to shape developments and better understand how decisions affect them. The proposals are also intended to meet future challenges by being sufficiently flexible to capture the consenting arrangements for developing technologies and any further powers which may be devolved.” While noise and soundscapes are covered in Planning Policy Wales, and under the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) Act 2024 for local planning authorities, this document refers to statutory nuisance and local impact reports. The consultation is open until 13 December 2024. Read the consultation here: https://tinyurl.com/Walesconsult

Aviation: CAA consultations on consumer environmental information
Last spring, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a call for evidence on consumer environmental information on aviation, seeking views on what environmental information should be provided to people when they are looking for and booking flights, to enable them to make informed choices about travel options. While acknowledging that noise has an impact, the request stated ‘This Call for Evidence does not focus on aviation noise, but the CAA has expertise and functions on aviation noise which are set out on our website.’ The IOA responded noting the conspicuous omission of noise, given the impact of aviation noise on health and the wider environment. The summary of responses published in July acknowledges comments made advocating the inclusion of noise, such as ‘There were several comments on the impact on public health of noise emissions from aviation (in answer to this and other questions) and recommendations that information about noise should also be considered for inclusion. There was also a recommendation that the CAA should undertake a call for evidence on the subject of consumer environmental information on noise and update its website as some of the existing published information is out of date.” CAA issued a further consultation on draft principles of consumer environmental information, which closed on 15 October 2024. Read the IOA response here: https://tinyurl.com/IOACAA
Read the summary of responses here: 22524 (caa.co.uk) and the CAA Consumer Environmental Information: Consultation on draft principles for aviation consumer environmental information here: https://tinyurl.com/CAAconsumer

Aviation: CAA Consultation on the future direction of the UK Aviation Environmental Review
The Civil Aviation Authority is seeking views on the future development of the UK Aviation Environmental Review (AER). They aim to develop the AER into a comprehensive and robust tool that can be used by Government, industry and other interested stakeholders to inform and drive positive environmental change. This consultation seeks feedback on the overall ambition and aims for the AER; and the nature of environmental data reported within the AER, including how this data should be presented.

The consultation is open until 10 December 2024 and you can read it here: https://consultations.caa.co.uk/policy-development/aviation-environmental-review-consultation/

Measuring noise from outdoor equipment
Outdoor equipment noise has been regulated in the UK in line with an EU Directive since 2001. The EU have now updated their regulations, reflecting progress in noise measurement methods, and Government are considering whether implementing this approach in the UK will support business. A Call for Evidence was issued aiming to aid understanding of the potential benefits and costs of introducing these measures and inform any potential secondary legislation, and IOA are considering our response. The consultation ran until 11 November 2024.

Mary Stevens