The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 185 ■ ■ Preparation of technical guidance giving practical tools for people involved with planning and urban design, neighbourhood regeneration and management, with particular reference to higher density mixed use development where noise nuisance can otherwise be a risk; and In particular, review of the framework governing design, installation and maintenance of ventilation, cooling and air handing equipment, including practical measures to address ‘creeping ambient’ (see glossary). proposal 25 The Mayor will work with others, including London boroughs and developers, and in particular the London Development Agency for developments and land disposals with which it is involved, to develop and promote exemplary sound-conscious urban design and noise management. Open spaces and the wider public realm 4F.28 London is a relatively green city with many different kinds of open spaces and public areas, characterised by many different natural and humanmade sounds. Noise issues arise not only for formal parks, informal parklands, commons, recreation grounds, playing fields, urban squares, ‘pocket parks’ and children’s play areas, but for woodlands, farmland and city farms, community gardens, ecology centres, allotments, nature reserves and other natural habitats, cemeteries and churchyards, wasteland, private gardens and other spaces. Many spaces may provide ‘reservoirs of tranquillity’ giving subjective relief, even when not publicly accessed, as well as some sound absorption. Noise may affect the number or location of certain animals, such as breeding birds, and affect human appreciation of wildlife, as well as overall human enjoyment of open spaces as places to rest, relax and reflect. 4F.29 Many of London’s open spaces are exposed to road, rail or aircraft noise, and some to industrial noise. Particular concern has been expressed at the extent to which many well-known open spaces are overflown by aircraft. 32 Conditions on roadside land and along railways need to be considered in the context of Chapters 4A and 4B. Water soundscapes are considered in Chapter 4D. Simon Rendel, in ‘Tranquil Area’ maps developed for the CPRE, demonstrated how the infrastructure of an industrialised economy had eroded rural tranquillity between 1960 and 1992. 33 Issues are very different in cities, of course. However, soundscape qualities in many of London’s open spaces are likely to have been eroded over recent decades. Absolute tranquillity - where natural or semi-natural sounds dominate rather than those of human activities - is, almost by definition, rare in cities. Urban tranquillity is often best seen as ‘relative quiet’ - an open space on the edge of London could feel quiet by contrast with other parts of the city, though noisy in a rural context. It is no less valuable for that. Soundscapes in urban squares and other parts of the public realm need to
186 Mayor of London The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy be considered as well as open spaces. It is also important to consider features of positive soundscape interest (see paragraph 4F.26), which may constitute ‘soundmarks’ (see glossary). Area-wide noise mapping could become a more popular and accessible tool if supplemented by measurement and attitude surveys, including engaging people in the identification of sound features they value positively, as well as ‘relative quiet.’ Having full regard to the needs of other noise-sensitive uses, and local play and community access, exploration of the value of designating ‘Areas of Relative Tranquillity or Special Soundscape Interest’ is encouraged, although they are not, at this stage, included as a London Plan policy 34 . 4F.30 As London’s built form becomes more compact and intensive, the value of open spaces is likely to grow, although they should not, of course, be regarded as substitutes for good domestic noise environments. The London Plan encourages functional and physical linkages within the network and to the wider public realm. Green Corridors (see glossary) may allow animals and plants to be found further into the built-up area than would otherwise be the case and provide an extension to the habitats of the sites they join. Green Chains (see glossary) provide landscaped routes for pedestrians or cyclists, and may help people to gain access to more tranquil areas when they need it, as may Greenways, or Thames Gateway’s Green Grid. Routes and public spaces more generally can be considered in terms of sequences of soundscapes characterised by diversity and special local interest, including in education and public engagement, and for visitors (see glossary under ‘soundscape’). 4F.31 Some uses of open spaces are more noise-sensitive than others. Some recreational activities in open spaces can generate significant noise. Some animals in open spaces may cause disturbance (e.g. peacocks). Both natural and human-made sound levels can vary widely across the same space, and by time of day, week and year. Noise from maintenance activity can reduce the peace and calm of open spaces. Noise from mowers and other mechanised equipment can be particularly annoying. Use of some equipment, such as leaf blowers, can be substituted by quieter methods. Where quieter equipment cannot be obtained, the noise of some mechanised equipment can be reduced by using lower power settings, without significantly reducing efficiency. ‘Quiet Zones’ have been signposted in some New York Parks, offering diverse users more choice. Park and other byelaws need to be periodically reviewed as noise sources change. 4F.32 Well-designed hard paving is visually powerful in many parts of the public realm. However, ‘soft ground’ and dense vegetation, where these can be
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:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161: 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 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?