The government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is set to bring in a new system of environmental assessment for development projects for England. Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs) are set to replace the current EU-derived Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes. Under the proposed new scheme, instead of assessing the likely significant effects of a development, projects will have to report against the achievement of specified “outcomes”. The outcomes to be measured will be specified in secondary legislation.

The IOA has responded to the consultation on strategic road and rail networks in England, which is set to up date the original National Networks National Policy Statement of 2014. The new draft policy includes a section on noise and vibration, acknowledging the wide ranging impacts excessive noise can have on quality of life and health, the enjoyment of quiet places and areas of high landscape quality. In our response we welcome the fact that the bulk of the text within this section of the policy

The Scottish Government have published details of the third phase of proposals to review permitted development rights (PDR). This consultation includes renewable technologies that have the potential to cause noise. For domestic air source heat pumps, currently only one is permitted per building, which could prevent installation where a building contains multiple dwellings. The consultation considers allowing permitting one installation per dwelling and how this could be managed.  For free standing wind turbines, a more flexible approach to height and separation distance is considered.

The Department for Transport and National Highways are consulting on Shaping the Future of England’s Strategic Roads. The consultation is linked to the Strategic Road Network (SRN) Initial Report 2025 - 2030 from National Highways. In a section on environment the report states “In 2021-22 we reduced noise for 1,067 households using barriers, low noise surfacing and in-home noise insulation.

A new online radio platform broadcasting natural sounds has been launched by the University of Sussex. Wilding Radio is broadcasting 24 hours a day from the Knepp Estate in West Sussex.

The IOA have submitted a response to the UK Government consultation on revised draft National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure.  Government state this is part of work aimed at strengthening and speeding up the planning process, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment and ensuring local views are accounted for. The policy covers England and Wales.