A well-written noise impact assessment keeps your planning application on track.

Opal Acoustics works directly with architects, planning consultants and developers, handling everything from the initial site survey through to submission and any queries that come back during the consultation period.

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When does a planning application need a noise assessment?

Local Planning Authorities require a noise assessment for a wide range of situations, such as:

Noise Impact Assessments for planning applications
Noise impact assessment for residential developments in accordance with BS 8233, ProPG, NPPF and other pertinent guidance
Internal noise validation for conditional discharge
Industrial noise assessments in line with BS4142
Commercial and retail noise impact assessments
Construction noise assessments in accordance with BS5228

If you have received a request for an acoustic or noise report from the local planning authority or if you have a noise related planning condition, we can help.

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What a noise impact assessment from Opal Acoustics includes

Initial review

Before any site work begins, we review the drawings, site location, any pre-application requirements and noise related conditions to confirm the correct scope and methodology.

Noise monitoring

Where required, we carry out a combination of manned and unattended noise monitoring at the site, capturing levels across the day, evening and night-time periods relevant to your development type.

Assessment and report

We prepare the noise impact assessment with reference to pertinent guidance within NPPF and the relevant standards, typically BS4142:2014+A1:2019 for commercial scenarios, and ProPG and BS 8233 for residential developments for example.

Mitigation requirements

Where internal noise levels need to be controlled, for example, in bedrooms facing a busy road or railway line, we provide a facade specification detailing the glazing and ventilation requirements in line with BS 8233 and Part-F of building regulations.

Where external plant noise levels need to be controlled at source, we provide mitigation techniques to ensure a compliant assessment such as boundary treatments and recommendations for location and positioning.

Submission support

If the planning authority raises queries on the acoustic report during determination, we respond directly. Where conditions are attached to the permission, we can then further help you handle the discharge.

Assessments we regularly carry out

Residential development

We assess external noise levels against current planning guidance, providing facade specifications to meet internal noise criteria in habitable rooms and protect garden amenity in accordance with BS 8233 and ProPG. We undertake noise surveys for new build and change of use developments, plus post-completion conditions including internal noise validations and external plant noise such as air source heat pumps (ASHPs).

BS4142 mixed use and commercial development

Used to assess the impact of commercial or industrial noise on residential properties, or vice versa. Commonly required for mixed-use developments, supermarkets, industrial units and external plant noise sources such as air conditioning units and condensers.

BB93 for schools and Breeam for commercial developments

Noise surveys and assessments for schools and commercial settings to comply with Building Bulletin 93 (BB93), BREEAM Hea 05 and Pol 05.

Where we work

Based in Yeadon, West Yorkshire, we regularly work with clients across the whole of the UK including:

Leeds

Bradford

Greater Manchester

Harrogate

York

Wakefield

Kirklees and Calderdale

North and South Yorkshire

Projects across the wider UK are considered, please contact for details.

Noise impact assessments for planning applications