The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

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The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 181 ■ Planning and design of noise-sensitive uses, notably conversions to housing, to protect occupants from the reasonable operation of defined areas of late night activity, and established 24 hour facilities, especially where these are of importance to London’s world city role. Sound-conscious urban design 4F.23 Urban designers should not just abate or mitigate noise, as a negative afterthought, but work consciously with sound as a positive element of good design. Sound quality can define place. Designers need to understand how sounds will behave in a space, to create soundscapes which are attractive to everyone, as well as supportive to those with special needs (see paragraphs 2.9 and 5.4). Some ‘barrier blocks’ with unduly hostile façades may have given noise-reducing design a bad image. However, good design can retain ‘eyes on the street’ while locating the most sensitive rooms, and windows which people can open, on a quiet side. Many of the most visually attractive building materials are sound-reflecting, while the choice of sound-absorbing building finishes is relatively limited. This tends to increase ambient noise levels in compact urban environments. The visual quality of much UK urban design has improved enormously over recent decades. The quality of soundscapes in and around new developments may not have been given the same attention. Talented designers can innovate with people-friendly design which pleases the ear as well as the eye. 4F.24 Action to influence ‘design for noise’ has tended to focus either on overall policy guidelines (e.g. Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 24) or the detail of building acoustics and noise control standards or specifications. There are few ‘intermediate level’ practical and accessible tools for those involved in town planning, neighbourhood regeneration, building layout and design, and urban management. The Mayor aims to carry out work in this area, subject to availability of resources. Government funding could play a valuable role in filling this gap, as an early part of developing National Ambient Noise Strategy. A review of UK and international experience and best practice in sound-conscious urban design would support the urban renaissance.
182 Mayor of London The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Box 55: Sound-conscious urban design - noise reduction issues ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Façade continuity and ‘quiet side’ - Buildings can be designed not only to protect their occupants, but to screen other areas from noise. High density development following traditional street blocks can reduce noise on the ‘quiet side’ by 10 to 20 dB(A). Spaces between buildings - Although enclosed spaces can often be tranquil, tightly-enclosed spaces can also ‘trap’ sound, including from poorly designed, installed or maintained ventilation plant, waste facilities, vehicle manoeuvring, neighbours, or aircraft. The balance of advantage between contained and more open layouts will depend on the relative contributions of different noise sources. In noisy areas, acoustic absorbency within ‘courtyard’ areas should normally be maximised, especially from dense vegetation and soft ground. Rooftop planting may be useful on lower level roofs. In quieter spaces, sound reflection can help people sense where they are. Paving design should consider noise not just from road vehicles, but trolleys, and, particularly over or near bedrooms, footfall. ‘Solar pergolas’ with photovoltaic panels, could modify sound propagation. Side streets and ‘side on’ buildings - Orienting blocks, terraces or streets of housing at right angles rather than parallel to a road or railway reduces façade noise levels, but means that both sides of a building can be equally noisy, and noise can spread. Staggering of units in terraces, projecting service cores, wing walls or fins, and other ‘self-protecting’ design can screen façades and openings. For side streets, diffusing façades, and cantilevered or bridging ‘gateway’ development (with absorptive soffits) can reduce propagation. Architectural noise barriers, transparent screens, or end-of-row infill development could be considered. Façade reflectivity - Multiple reflection between opposing, acoustically hard building surfaces increases noise levels, particularly in ‘urban street canyons’ (see glossary). Façades at the wrong angle can reflect sound into quiet areas, as can curved and outward sloping buildings. Sound absorbing panels, deep acoustic profiling, ‘absorptive banners’ and other elements should be considered. A wider choice of acoustically absorptive materials needs to be developed, ideally using recycled materials. In compact urban environments, making barrier surfaces more absorptive is generally preferable to inclining them to reflect sound upwards. Noise and height - High buildings, with less shielding from other buildings, may receive noise from a wider area. Stepping-back of upper floors, canopies and other projections can offer screening. Acoustic balconies, with high imperforate parapets and absorptive linings to the
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