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Noise: Defra Commissions Research on Noise and Environmental Impact Assessment

Defra has recently appointed a team headed by acoustic consultants Rupert Taylor to review the effects of the planning process on the noise environment with regard to human health, flora, fauna and the built environment. The other team members are Bernard Berry, Director of Berry Environmental Ltd, , who has conducted research for both Defra and the World Health Organization, and Dr Graham Wood who is Reader in Environmental Assessment and Management at Oxford Brookes University and Co-Director of their Impact Assessment Unit.

The study will investigate the effectiveness of the Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) process in dealing with noise impacts.  It will consider both the Environmental Statement (ES) itself and the outcome of the process i.e. after the development has been implemented.  For the ES stage the project will assess both the technical quality of the noise section and whether the impacts are described sufficiently clearly for the benefit of those who might be affected.

Where developments have been completed the study will review how well the noise impacts were predicted, whether any mitigation offered or imposed has achieved its objective, and whether there are any unexpected noise issues e.g. leading to complaints.

EIA procedures in other EU member states will also be compared to the UK process and any possible transferable benefits identified. Finally, consideration will be given to any effects that noise action planning under the terms of the European Noise Directive might have on the current planning process as regards noise.

Since the study encompasses the outcome (in noise terms) of completed developments, the team would be interested to hear of specific examples where the operating phase with regard to the noise impact has proved to be either successful or problematic.  Please contact Stuart Dryden at Rupert Taylor (smd@ruperttaylor.com , 01993 852 347).

Page last modified: 17 December 2008