JSNA Noise Information

Introduction

Noise issues in the borough can be considered under the two broad headings of “environmental noise” and “neighbourhood noise”. The main sources of environmental noise are road traffic, railways and aircraft. Complaints about noise from these sources cannot normally be dealt with using noise nuisance powers, and consequently complaints to the Council about such noise are relatively small in number. In contrast, the Council has statutory nuisance powers to deal with most types of neighbourhood noise. Neighbourhood noise includes noise arising from within the community such as industrial and entertainment premises, trade and business premises, construction sites and noise in the street.

The Government’s Noise Policy Statement for England of 2010 applies to all forms of noise, including environmental noise and neighbourhood noise. The stated long-term vision of Government noise policy is: “Promote good health and a good quality of life through the effective management of noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable development.” The noise policy statement recognises that noise exposure can cause annoyance and sleep disturbance both of which can impact on quality of life. It also recognises that there is emerging evidence that long-term exposure to some types of transport noise can cause an increased risk of direct health effects. Detailed advice on noise issues in is given in the Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy of 2004.

Environmental noise The borough is affected by noise from road traffic, railways and aircraft. and RAF are situated in the borough, as well as a number of major roads and railway lines.

The Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC seeks to protect people from the adverse effects of noise from road, railway and aircraft noise sources. The requirements of the directive have been transposed into England by the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006. Under the regulations, strategic noise maps have been produced for road, railway and aircraft noise. The maps give estimated noise levels from the individual noise sources using Lden (a measure of noise over the day, evening and night) and Lnight (a measure of noise at night). This has been followed by the production of Noise Action Plans intended to manage noise and its effects, including noise reduction if necessary. Defra has produced a Noise Action Plan dealing with road and railway noise in the London agglomeration. The London agglomeration noise action plan requires the identification of Quiet Areas relatively unaffected by environmental noise. BAA plc has produced a draft Noise Action Plan dealing with noise from aircraft using Heathrow airport.

Road traffic noise While the M4 crossing the borough is a major source of road traffic noise, there is also road traffic noise from the M40 and M25 bordering or outside the borough. There are other major roads in or bordering the borough such as the A4, A30, A40 and A312, as well as local roads within the borough.

The London agglomeration Noise Action Plan was produced by Defra in 2010 and considers Important Areas and First Priority Locations with respect to road traffic noise. Important Areas are where the 1% of the London agglomeration population that are affected by the highest road traffic noise levels live. In addition, those locations where the LA10,18h is at least 76 dB are defined as First Priority Locations. The action plan estimates that there are less than 100 residents in Hillingdon borough living in Important Areas or First Priority Locations with respect to road traffic noise. There are two First Priority Locations for road traffic noise in Hillingdon borough. Both locations are adjacent to the M4, with one being at West Drayton and the other at Harlington. The Important Areas for road traffic noise in the borough have not yet been identified.

Under the London agglomeration action plan, responsibility for implementing road traffic noise measures resides with the relevant highway authorities. The Highways Agency is responsible for M4, M25 and M40. This means that the Highways Agency is responsible for taking measures to mitigate road traffic noise at the two First Priority Locations mentioned. is responsible for A4, A40, A30 and A312. The remaining roads in the borough are the responsibility of the Council.

We will deal with road traffic noise by carrying out our noise management obligations under the London agglomeration noise action plan. We will also use our planning development control powers to prevent noise sensitive development, such as new housing, in areas exposed to high road traffic noise levels, and to ensure mitigation of noise impacts at new noise sensitive development. In addition, we will use any funding available from Transport for London under the Local Implementation Plan to implement road traffic noise mitigation measures on roads under local authority control. Examples of possible mitigation measures are road resurfacing using low noise road material and provision of roadside noise barriers. We will work with Defra in the identification of Quiet Areas in the borough, and seek to protect any designated Quiet Areas from increases in environmental noise.

Railway noise The borough is affected by railway noise from the Paddington, Marylebone and main railway lines as well as from Piccadilly, Metropolitan and Central railway lines operated by Limited.

The London agglomeration Noise Action Plan defines Important Areas for railway noise as being where the 1% of the London agglomeration population that are affected by the highest railway noise levels live. In addition, those locations where the LAeq,18h is at least 73 dB are defined as First Priority Locations. The action plan estimates that less than 100 residents of Hillingdon borough live in Important Areas or First Priority Locations for railway noise. The only First Priority Location for railway noise in the borough is in part of Northwood affected by noise from the and Metropolitan railway lines. Responsibility for managing railway noise under the action plan resides with the relevant rail authorities and the Department for Transport.

We will deal with railway noise using our planning development control powers to prevent noise sensitive development, such as housing, at locations exposed to high railway noise levels, and to ensure mitigation of noise impacts at new noise sensitive development. The currently preferred route for the proposed HS2 high-speed railway passes through residential areas of West and , and across open land near South Harefield. Noise from high-speed trains using the proposed railway is a serious concern for the borough. We will endeavour to protect our residents from adverse noise impacts of the proposed high- speed railway.

Aircraft noise Every year, the Civil Aviation Authority produces noise contours for Heathrow airport giving estimated aircraft noise exposure in terms of LAeq16h (noise level average over 16hrs day). The aircraft noise contours do not cover noise from ground noise sources at the airport, such as aircraft taxiing and aircraft engine testing. Noise from airport ground noise sources is an issue for Hillingdon residents living in the south of the borough close to the airport. Noise from aircraft using RAF Northolt mainly affects residents living in North Hillingdon and South Ruislip. Aircraft noise contours for RAF Northolt are also available.

A report prepared by Roger Tym and Partners in 2005 entitled “The impacts of Heathrow airport on Hillingdon” estimated that only around 3% of Hillingdon borough residents live within the 57 dB LAeq,16h aircraft noise contour, which the Government uses to indicate the onset of significant community annoyance about aircraft noise. The relatively low percentage result is because only the southernmost part of the borough is within the 57 dB contour and much of that area is undeveloped or within the airport itself. Nevertheless, parts of some residential areas situated close to the airport (Longford, , Harlington, Sipson and Harlington) fall within the higher 63 dB and 72 dB aircraft noise contours.

The draft Heathrow noise action plan was produced by BAA plc in 2009. It sets out how BAA plc plans to manage the impacts of noise from aircraft using Heathrow over the next 5 years. It contains in excess of 50 draft actions intended to improve management of aircraft noise. The main responsibilities for managing aircraft noise under the Heathrow Noise Action Plan reside with the operator BAA plc, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport.

We seek to protect our residents from adverse aircraft noise impacts through our involvement in the noise action planning process. We will use our planning development powers to prevent noise sensitive development, such as housing, in areas exposed to high aircraft noise levels, and to ensure mitigation of noise impacts at new noise sensitive development. We will respond to government consultations on aviation policy, and participate in Heathrow working groups, with the aim of protecting our residents from adverse noise impacts of aircraft noise.

Neighbourhood noise Noise complaints made to the Council in the financial year 2009/10 were as follows: 1838 domestic noise complaints; 544 commercial noise complaints. A breakdown of commercial noise complaints by type of noise is given in Table 1 below. Fixed plant covers noise from fixed mechanical plant such as factories, industrial machinery, extraction system fans, air conditioning plant and heating plant. Mobile plant noise mainly relates to plant used at demolition and construction sites. Music noise mainly relates to amplified music from pubs and clubs. Most vehicle noise complaints relate to vehicles used for deliveries, or collections of goods or refuse. Vehicle noise also covers noise from aircraft, road traffic and railways. However, most complaints about aircraft noise are made direct to the relevant airport, either Heathrow or RAF Northolt. Alarms covers burglar alarms at commercial premises and vehicle intruder alarms. Examples of other noise sources are public address systems, low frequency noise, recreational shooting and barking dogs at commercial premises.

Table 1 Commercial noise complaints by noise type Noise type Number Fixed plant 38 Mobile plant 115 People noise 30 Amplified music 170 Vehicle noise 61 Alarms 15 DIY 16 Other 99

We will use our planning development control powers to avoid the creation of noise problems associated with new development in the borough. This involves controlling noise generating development and ensuring that noise sensitive development is not exposed to unacceptable noise levels, and that new noise impacts are adequately mitigated. We will use our powers under the Licensing Act 2003 to control public nuisance related to licensable activities at premises such as pubs and clubs. We aim to provide an excellent service to residents for dealing with complaints relating to commercial or domestic noise.

19/11/2010 File: JSNA Noise info_1