The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

134 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
for areas along the landing glideslopes. For example, larger and heavier
aircraft are likely to remain noisier than smaller. The decision through
ICAO not to go for a tougher noise standard for new aircraft implies more
reliance on land use planning around airports to limit exposure. Advances
in aircraft technology do not appear likely, without further incentive, to
deliver major reductions in landing noise over the period to 2016. Future
advances in airspace management may enable improved track keeping, or
other operational changes.
Box 44: Flightpath Development Issues
Issues include:
■
■
■
Updating projections of noise impact, particularly in terms of latest
available estimates of aircraft size and noise footprints, not just for
existing noise contours, but in terms of number of events above
defined noise levels on the glidepath and departure routes, taking
account of any potential changes in airspace design and management;
Examining the scope for transfer of development rights and other
mechanisms to promote logistics, manufacturing and other less noisesensitive
development in the more affected areas under the glidepaths,
while securing space for housing and schools in quieter areas;
Preparing planning and urban design guidelines for minimising the
impact of aircraft noise in external as well as internal environments.
Issues include materials, building form and layout.
4C.36 The London Plan sets out a framework for addressing London’s housing
supply needs. The Mayor is committed to carrying out a new London
Housing Capacity Study in 2004. The Air Transport White Paper leaves
uncertainty regarding further growth of Heathrow, and, although road
traffic noise mapping is well advanced, other parts of the national
mapping programme are experiencing delays. When complete, noise maps
should help in assessing the implications of road, rail and aircraft noise on
a consistent basis, although they are likely to need to be supplemented
by other information. Over the period to 2016 or 2021, it is possible that
technological developments in non-aviation sources, such as quieter tyres
and road surfaces, and rail engineering improvements, could reduce road
and rail noise relative to that from aircraft noise. The implications of
different noise sources for potential housing sites needs to be assessed,
including, as far as available information allows, differences in likely rates
of change, notably under aircraft flightpaths.
policy 45
The Mayor will work with boroughs to ensure that Government guidance
is properly applied so that residential development provides suitable
conditions for residents. London-wide Housing Capacity Studies should