We carry out regular environmental compliance noise monitoring at a number of sites across the country. This is often required for large developments to ensure noise emissions remain within limits stipulated in environmental permits, planning consents and/or lease agreements.

Sites such as quarries and landfills sometimes require monitoring on a quarterly or annual basis for the lifetime of the development. Indeed, we have carried out this monitoring at some sites over many years.

Energy Recovery Facility

One site that we visit regularly is an ERF (energy recovery facility) located in the midlands that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week generating electricity and heat from household refuse.

We were initially commissioned in 2015 to carry out a noise survey and assessment at the perimeter and outside nearby homes to establish the contribution of the ERF to the ambient noise climate and to assist with formulating a compliance noise monitoring regime at the site.

The initial measurements and assessment enabled us to recommended maximum operational noise levels for each location as a baseline for future monitoring.

Since the initial assessment, we have carried out quarterly noise monitoring at locations close to the ERF and we have built good relationships with the site and nearby residents to ensure the smooth process of monitoring and reporting, supporting uninterrupted operation of the site.

Quarry

Another site where we have helped over many years is a quarry in Cheshire. A condition of the planning consent for the quarry requires compliance noise monitoring every six months for the lifetime of the site and during remedial works following the end of quarrying.

Separate noise limits apply for the typical day to day operations and any short-term operations.

All our noise monitoring is carried out in strict accordance with the procedures and guidelines contained in ‘Minerals Policy Statement 2 Annex 2 – Noise’. 

The results of the noise surveys are used to determine compliance with the planning noise limits for the site and we prepare formal noise monitoring reports that are submitted to the Mineral Planning Authority.