Chichester District Council
Agenda item

Agenda item

Planning Noise Advice Document

The Committee is requested to consider the report and its appendix and make the following resolutions:

 

1.    That Planning Committee approves the Sussex Planning Noise Advice Document for consultation.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment (following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Chichester Contract Services) to consider the representations arising from the consultation exercise and, provided the representations do not require significant amendments to the Document, to approve adoption (with minor amendments if considered appropriate) of the Document.

Decision:

Resolved;

 

2.1 That Planning Committee approves the Sussex Planning Noise Advice Document for Consultation

 

2.2 That authority be delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment (following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Chichester Contract Services) to consider the representations arising from the consultation exercise and, provided the representations do not require significant amendments if considered appropriate)of the Document

Minutes:

Mr Paul Thomson, Senior Environmental Health Officer presented the report to the Committee.

 

Mr Thomson provided the Committee with a brief background to noise and the impact that it can have on; the environment, health and quality of individuals and communities. He explained that noise can be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

 

Mr Thomson informed the Committee that the Planning Noise Advisory Document had first been produced in 2014 and subsequently revised in 2015. This latest version, which the Committee were being asked to consider had been developed by a group of pan Sussex Environmental Health Officers.

 

Mr Thomson explained that the document sought to deliver the following three aims;

 

1.    Provide a level of clarity to agents and applicants as to the Council’s approach to noise related issues through the development management system which is consistent with other local authorities in both East and West Sussex.

 

2.    Ensure appropriate standards are set, including; ProPG and the World Health Organisation 2018 Noise Guidelines, and that these standards are referred to in noise assessments and applied consistently in planning decisions. Mr Thomson informed the Committee of the noise hierarchy and how developers are encouraged to adopt a sustainable approach to noise mitigation measures.

 

3.    Encourage developers and applicants to liaise with Local Authorities at the earliest opportunity before a planning application is submitted, minimising any potential delays to the decision making process.

 

The document helps to inform developers and applicants of when a noise assessment is likely to be required. Mr Thomson informed the Committee that the document was an important reference document that supports the council’s position when responding to applications, some authorities such as Crawley Borough Council and Arun District Council have formally adopted the document as part of the Local Plan Evidence.

 

Mr Thomson explained to the Committee that Chichester District Council were looking to formally adopt the document as a local technical guidance note, following a limited scope consultation with developers and agents; Mr Thomson highlighted that this was not a public consultation as it was a technical advice note.  The consultation period will run for a period of seven weeks from 21 June – 6 August 2021, any amendments or alterations that are identified through the consultation process will be appended to the document as applicable to Chichester District Council only.

 

In addition to the document there are policies unique to Chichester District Council, including a MAS Environmental Limited 2018 noise study for Goodwood. Mr Thomson explained that this had been commissioned by the Council to set specific criteria for noise considerations from both the aerodrome and motor racing circuit.

 

Mr Thomson responded to Members comments and questions as follows;

 

Mr Thomson confirmed that the document was available on the Council website and could be shared with Parish Councils.

 

Mr Thomson clarified that the document was a ‘live’ document; the purpose of the consultation was for Chichester District Council to formally adopt the document as a Technical Advice Note.

 

On the matter of noise quality, Mr Thomson acknowledged that this was a very important aspect when considering noise related matters and agreed that some noises are more preferable than others, even if they are played at the same level. Character ratings are applied, such as tonality and impulsivity when a noise assessment is being considered from an industrial site for example.

 

On the matter of aircraft noise, Mr Thomson confirmed that there was a reference to aircraft noise included on page 5 (page 155 of the agenda pack) and within Table 1 of the document.

 

In a vote Members agreed the report recommendation.

 

Resolved;

 

2.1 That Planning Committee approves the Sussex Planning Noise Advice Document for consultation

 

2.2 That authority be delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment (following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Chichester Contract Services) to consider the representations arising from the consultation exercise and, provided the representations do not require significant amendments to the Document, to approve adoption (with minor amendments if considered appropriate) of the Document.

 

Supporting documents:

 

Top of page