Air Conditioning (and Planning conditions)
The noise from an ill considered or badly maintained air conditioning and/or air handling plant can be intrusive and annoying to residents nearby.
Excessive noise can be a 'statutory nuisance' and the council's noise team with be forced to intervene.
All new plant must have planning permission. Older plant may be deemed to have planning permission, however, if it is found illegal then it could be investigated by the council's planning department.
When choosing equipment you can lessen the potential for noise problems through:
- your choice of plant
- careful planning and location
- good maintenance
- the construction of enclosures and/or barriers
Planning conditions
It has long been recognised that the amount of plant and equipment being installed and the many restaurants and entertainment premises in Westminster has led to a a general increase in noise levels.
Recent research and measurement has demonstrated that Westminster has a unique noise environment. Due to its location it is much noisier than most other areas of England and Wales.
The city is congested with traffic and has a densely populated business, commercial and entertainment community. Most of these require plant and other equipment to service them.
Since 2000, the council has imposed very strict planning conditions in an attempt to control noise increase and actively reduce ambient noise levels.
The current position is that any plant and equipment should not unduly increase existing background noise levels as measured at the nearest noise sensitive affected premises. (Mainly residential premises, although schools, hotels, hospitals and some media and public entertainment premises may be included.)
Planning conditions are intended to ensure that all new plant should not be audible inside residential or sensitive premises or, in some circumstances, external amenity areas.
Consideration must be given to the fact that some people are more sensitive to noise than others and it is recognised that limits may not provide total inaudibility to all persons. Noise should not affect the individuals right to a quiet and peaceful enjoyment of there property.
In general terms, planning conditions will require that all new plant be designed so that noise emissions, as predicted at a location one metre outside the affected façade of a premises, will be ten dB below the lowest measured background value (LA90)
In some circumstances the design target may be reduced where it can be shown or demonstrated that the noise impact will not be detrimental to local inhabitants.
The current conditions are known as:
- C38: Plant inside CAZ* and stressed areas
- C39: Plant outside CAZ* and stressed areas
- C40: Entertainment Premises inside CAZ* and stressed areas
- C41: Entertainment premises outside CAZ* and stressed areas
*(Central Activity Zone)
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