The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 177 policy 73 policy 74 In support of Policy 4A.14 of the London Plan, 2004, the Mayor will urge boroughs to include in their Unitary Development Plans, or other mechanisms, measures to minimise the adverse impacts of noise, having regard to Government guidance and to this strategy. Equality of access to quiet for social rented and affordable housing as for other housing should be sought in consideration of specific planning applications. Measures to protect housing, and noise-sensitive activities within schools, hospitals and other developments, would include: ■ Reducing noise at source, such as through traffic management; ■ Clustering, or limiting dispersal of, noise-generating activities; ■ Improving boundary design to screen noise; ■ Locating less noise-sensitive activities to screen or otherwise protect noise-sensitive uses; and ■ Promoting on-going maintenance and management, through conditions, licensing, agreements or other means. The Mayor will urge the Government to support further measures to raise the profile of noise in schools, such as through developing a School Soundscapes Programme, and making available a Sound Roadshow for Schools combining diagnosis of problems on-site, preliminary acoustic design proposals, science and other teaching, and promotion of ‘healthy hearing’ to appropriate age groups. Mixed uses, town centres and the late night economy 4F.19 Government policy encourages more housing in town centres, and promotes mixed-use development, 15 although it also recognises that particular care is needed over location and design with respect to some uses. 16 The Urban Task Force encouraged higher densities and more diverse mixes of activities at transport hubs and in town centres, but also drew attention to the risk of conflict between housing and late night activities. 17 The London Plan promotes mixed use. London’s first Economic Development Strategy 18 recognised that: ‘Best contemporary noise management and design will be important if economic activities, housing and other uses are to mix sustainably.’ 4F.20 Mixed use can, however, also offer noise benefits. In higher density mixed use developments, offices, retail and other uses can screen housing. In many cases, vibrant frontages can be reconciled with quiet rear courtyards or gardens. Housing on upper floors can be screened by set-backs or balconies. The Mayor’s policies for transport, spatial and economic development seek to promote higher densities in areas of good transport accessibility. High public transport accessibility in town centres offers the opportunity to reduce the amount of car parking, increasing space for
178 Mayor of London The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy other uses and reducing noise. Car free developments can be designed and marketed as havens of relative tranquillity. 4F.21 Urban vitality can be achieved with different degrees and types of mix - it is ready access to local facilities and a rich urban texture which are important. 19 These can be obtained without ‘cheek by jowl’ mixing of uses which have the most conflicting demands for buzz or quiet. ‘Pepperpotting’ of late night bars, restaurants and clubs, and poorly insulated flat conversions, invites conflict, particularly where they share adjoining structure, or the same otherwise quiet street or rear area. The degree and type of mix sought or permitted should be related to the specific characteristics of the local building fabric, 20 including how suitably it can be adapted. Local planning and area development frameworks can seek to identify suitable locations for late night activities while maintaining quieter conditions for housing in most of the area. 21 4F.22 The need for effective premises-focused measures to tackle noise at source is well-established. 22 However, it is much harder to protect residents from noise in the street, such as from exuberant revellers leaving entertainment premises late at night. Staggering of closing times and operator good practice may reduce street noise, but cannot solve all problems. Larger, youth-oriented late night venues will typically be best located where users can access transport most quickly, and where effective acoustic screening/separation from existing or prospective housing exists or can be achieved (see box 53). Some element of zoning or clustering will, of course, be easier to achieve in town centres undergoing land use change than in established areas like the West End. In any event, enhanced area management is also likely to be required. Several recent reports 23 have recommended an area management approach. A recent report for the GLA 24 also suggested Entertainment Management Zones - areas including entertainment venues and other elements of the evening economy, designated by boroughs in their UDPs, in which planning, licensing, policing, transport and street management issues would be managed and co-ordinated. Such approaches are likely to be focused in central London, City fringe areas and town centres (see Policy 3D.4 and paragraph 3.236 of the London Plan). Designation needs to be handled with great care, particularly for established pockets of housing. The planning system should aim to reduce uncertainty regarding the noise environment, for existing and potential residents and businesses alike. The concept is a natural extension of town centre management, an already established and proven practice. Reform of alcohol and entertainment-related licensing in England and Wales has given rise to a range of concerns. 25 26 27 Many stakeholders consider that the Licensing Act 2003 could mean rapid growth in late opening, but that resources might not be available for the extra cleansing, police, transport,
Page 1 and 2:
March 2004 Sounder City The Mayor
Page 3 and 4:
copyright Greater London Authority
Page 5 and 6:
Mayor of London The Mayor’s Ambie
Page 8 and 9:
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strateg
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12:
Page 15 and 16:
viii Mayor of London The Mayor’s
Page 17 and 18:
x Mayor of London The Mayor’s Amb
Page 19 and 20:
xii Mayor of London The Mayor’s A
Page 21 and 22:
xiv Mayor of London The Mayor’s A
Page 23 and 24:
xvi Mayor of London The Mayor’s A
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30:
Page 33 and 34:
8 Mayor of London The Mayor’s Amb
Page 35 and 36:
10 Mayor of London The Mayor’s Am
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153: The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strateg
Page 174: The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strateg
Page 177 and 178: 152 Mayor of London The Mayor’s A
Page 252 and 253:
Page 254 and 255:
Page 256 and 257:
Page 258 and 259:
Page 260 and 261:
Page 262 and 263:
Page 264 and 265:
Page 266 and 267:
Page 268 and 269:
Page 270 and 271:
Page 272 and 273:
Page 274 and 275:
Page 276 and 277:
Page 278 and 279:
Page 280 and 281:
Page 282 and 283:
Page 284 and 285:
Page 286 and 287:
Page 288 and 289:
Page 290 and 291:
Page 292 and 293:
Page 294 and 295:
Page 296 and 297:
Page 298 and 299:
Page 300 and 301:
Page 302 and 303:
Page 304 and 305:
Page 306 and 307:
Page 308 and 309:
Page 310 and 311:
Page 312 and 313:
Page 314 and 315:
Page 316 and 317:
Page 318 and 319:
Page 320:
Other formats and languages For a l
show all

The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?