Part Two Noise
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PART TWO NOISE SECTION 7 – NOISE Please note, this Assessment must be read in conjunction with Part 1 of the Grandcourt Quarry Environmental Statement (ES) which contains: • a detailed description of the Proposed Development; • development Drawings and Figures; and • a summary of other assessments undertaken in relation to the Proposed Development which may be relevant. The following documents and drawings form part of this assessment: Figure 7.1 – Noise and Dust Monitoring Locations Appendix 7.1 – Ambient / Background Noise Level Monitoring Equipment and Procedures Appendix 7.2 – Ambient / Background Noise Monitoring Survey Results Appendix 7.3 – Noise Predictions Appendix 7.4 – Noise Report June 2016 Appendix 7.5 – Noise Report November 2016 Appendix 7.6 – Noise Report May 2017 Appendix 7.7 – Noise Report December 2017 PART TWO NOISE SECTION 7 - NOISE 7.1 INTRODUCTION 7.1.1 Planning consent for extraction of sand at Grandcourt Quarry, East Winch was granted to Sibelco by Norfolk County Council in 2007. Sibelco is now seeking to extend the area of mineral extraction into land to the east of the consented reserves. Transport of the extracted sand from this site to the existing stockpiling and plant feed site at Leziate will continue to be by articulated dumptrucks using the internal dedicated haul route. 7.1.2 An assessment of the potential impact at the closest noise sensitive properties, due to noise arising from proposed quarrying activity has been undertaken and the findings are set out in the following report. 7.2 BASIS OF ASSESSMENT 7.2.1 The proposed quarry extension will entail mobile plant operating closer a number of noise sensitive residential properties. In order to evaluate the impact of the proposals scheme on these noise sensitive properties, a quantitative assessment has been conducted. The basis of this assessment is as follows:- . Identification of significant noise sources and noise generating activities. Assessment of sound pressure levels from main sources and activities to determine sound power levels. Measurement of existing background and ambient noise levels at the noise sensitive properties. Calculation of received noise levels at the properties arising from the proposed site activities. Comparison of predicted noise levels with existing noise levels and with relevant noise criteria. Proposals for mitigation of impacts (if required) 7.3 SITE DESCRIPTION 7.3.1 The Grandcourt Quarry site is situated approximately one mile south east of the mineral processing site at Leziate. The site is located on the northern side of the A47 trunk road with East Winch village to the east. The current quarry is located to the west and north- PART TWO NOISE west. The existing haul route to transport sand between the quarry and processing plant will remain in use with a short additional section at the eastern end to link into the new deposit. 7.3.2 The extension area land varies from an elevation of around 26m above ordnance datum (AOD) in the south west, falling towards the north and east to an elevation of 14m AOD. There are no existing landforms or topographical features within the site that would significantly influence noise propagation towards neighbouring noise sensitive properties. The land is currently used as arable farm land and in acoustic terms, is soft. 7.4 NOISE SENSITIVE PROPERTIES 7.4.1 There are only two occupied residential properties in close proximity on the western side of the application area. Grandcourt Farm is located north-west of the site at 75 metres from the proposed extraction area and another property also known as Grandcourt Farm (here referred to as Carrpit Cottage to avoid confusion) located next to the A47 at a distance of 100 metres from the proposed extraction area. Holland House, situated just off the A47 is the closest property to the south east of the application area at a distance of 100 metres from the proposed extraction area. 7.4.2 Grandcourt Bungalow is situated at the western edge of the application site and it is proposed that this property will, subject to mineral planning consent, be demolished. 7.4.3 A larger number of noise sensitive residential properties are located in East Winch village to the east of the application site. No.63 Town close is situated at 270m from the north eastern edge of the application area. 7.5 ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE CRITERIA Site Specific Noise Criteria 7.5.1 For the ongoing sand extraction operations at Grandcourt Quarry, planning consent was granted by Norfolk County Council in 2007 (Planning Ref No. C/2/2004/2034). Condition 5 of the consent specifies a limit on received noise from site operations as follows: ‘With the exception of noise generated during soil movement and bund/baffle mound construction and removal, noise emitted from the site shall not exceed: 49dB(A) LEQ (1 hour) at Grandcourt Farmhouse PART TWO NOISE 50dB(A) LEQ (1 hour) at Grandcourt Bungalow 46dB(A) LEQ (1 hour) at Carrpit Cottage National Planning Policy Framework and Technical Guidance 7.5.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government in March 2012. The NPPF simplifies and replaces over a thousand pages of planning policy with a single, concise document. 7.5.3 The NPPF is supplemented by a Technical Guidance document which provides additional guidance to planning authorities to ensure effective implementation of the planning policy set out in the NPPF on development in relation to mineral extraction. The Technical Guidance sections relating to assessment and control of noise from proposed mineral developments are outlined below. Noise Emissions 7.5.4 Under the National Planning Policy Framework, planning authorities need to ensure that unavoidable noise emissions are controlled, mitigated or removed at source. Planning authorities should also establish appropriate noise limits for extraction operations taking place in proximity to noise sensitive properties 7.5.5 Those making development proposals should carry out an assessment of noise emissions which should identify all noise sources and consider the proposed locations, procedures and duration of operations. Proposals for the control or mitigation of noise emissions should consider: • the main characteristics of the operations process and its environs, including the location of noise-sensitive properties; • proposals to minimise, mitigate or remove noise emissions at source; • assessing the existing noise climate around the site of the proposed development operations, including background noise levels at nearby noise sensitive properties; • estimating the likely future noise from the development and its impact on the neighbourhood of the proposed operations: • monitoring noise emissions to ensure compliance with appropriate environmental standards PART TWO NOISE Noise Standards 7.5.6 Subject to a maximum of 55dB(A) LEQ 1 Hour (free-field), Mineral Planning Authorities should aim to establish a noise limit at the noise sensitive property that does not exceed background level by more than 10dB(A). It is recognised, however that in many circumstances it will be difficult to not exceed background level by more than 10dB(A) without imposing unreasonable burdens on the mineral operator. In such cases the limit set should be as near that level as practicable during normal working hours (07:00 – 19:00) and should not exceed 55dB(A) LEQ. 7.5.7 Evening (19:00 – 22:00) limits should not exceed background level by more than 10dB(A) and night-time limits should not exceed 42dB(A) LEQ. 7.5.8 Where tonal noise contributes significantly to the total site noise, it may be appropriate to set specific limits for this element. Peak or impulsive noise, which may include some reversing bleepers, may also require separate limits that are independent of background noise and should not be allowed to occur regularly at night. 7.5.9 For noisy, short-term activities such as soil stripping, construction and removal of baffle/soil storage mounds and spoil heaps or construction of new permanent landforms, it may not be possible to meet the noise limits set for normal operations. 7.5.10 Increased daytime noise limits of up to 70dB(A) LEQ for periods of up to eight weeks in a year at specified noise sensitive properties should be considered for essential site preparation and restoration work where it is clear that this will bring longer term environmental benefits to the site or its environs. 7.5.11 Where work is likely to take longer than eight weeks, a lower limit over a longer period should be considered. In some wholly exceptional cases, where there is no viable alternative, a higher limit for a very limited period may be appropriate in order to attain the environmental benefits. However, within this framework the 70dB(A) LEQ limit referred to previously should be regarded as the normal maximum. 7.6 MONITORING OF EXISTING NOISE LEVELS 7.6.1 Measurement of background/ambient noise levels has been undertaken in the vicinity of the closest noise sensitive residential properties on each side of the application site (see Figure PART TWO NOISE 7.1). The monitoring procedure and instrumentation used are set out in Appendix 7.1 and the recorded noise levels are shown in Appendix 7.2. 7.6.2 Noise monitoring was conducted at three locations over periods of twelve hours (during separate visits in May and July 2012 and March 2013) corresponding to the maximum proposed working periods. Readings were obtained over twelve consecutive one-hour periods commencing at 7:00 and ending at 19:00. Monitoring at one location was conducted over a nine hour period, commencing at 10:00 and ending at 19:00. Town Close, East Winch 7.6.3 Town Close in East Winch is situated on the north eastern side of the application area.