Legal and Planning
Environmental issues were once the concern only of the
developed world, but now there is worldwide desire for international
standards to apply on environmental matters, and
this applies as much to noise as to other impacts. For example,
both the World Health Authority and the World Bank publish standards
on noise criteria applicable to international projects.
Governments increasingly recognise that laws are only effective
if they are enforced, and therefore environmental policies are
implemented for example now through issuing IPPC/PPC permits
on existing industrial sites. For new developments, planning
application often have to be supported with a technical acoustic
report. This could be as part of an Environmental Statement (ES)
or as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Within
the UK there is also a requirement for reports to be prepared
in accordance with Planning Policy guidelines such as PPG 24
'Planning and Noise' and MPS 2 'Controlling the Environmental
Effects of Mineral Extraction in England'. Many planning appeals
require expert evidence on noise and vibration.
Spectrum has a long track record of providing specialist legal
and planning noise assessment reports including expert testimony, and also in acting
as expert witnesses, on a very wide range of noise issues. These
have generally been carried out in relation to planning applications,
planning appeals but also nuisance actions brought under the Environmental
Protection Act 1990.
Typical projects include:
- Planning noise assessments of new Custody
Centres, London, for Metropolitan Police
- Expert report for supermarket planning
appeal, Andover, for Lidl Stores UK
- Over 200 PPG 24 planning noise assessments
- EIA on noise for many Npower/National
Power UK stations
- Expert noise testimony for License hearings, for
nightclubs, clubs and pubs
- Environmental Noise Impact Assessments of 13 UK prisons, for Home Office
 Expert Witness/Testimony Projects
Planning Projects
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Noise
Assessments |
Spectrum has a long track record of
providing specialist legal and planning reports including
expert testimony, and also in acting as expert witnesses,
on a very wide range of noise issues.
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