The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 197
London Authority Act 1999. There is some evidence that noise from
construction activity is a problem for a higher proportion of Londoners than
nationally (see Chapter 2). Construction activity is high in certain areas of
London, notably the centre and docklands, including in some areas of social
exclusion or deprivation. High levels of construction can be expected over
the next decade. Six London boroughs have developed and use ‘considerate
contractor’ schemes. 11 A London-wide code of practice has been seen as
providing clarity and simplicity for the construction industry. Operators of
facilities which generate noise need to demonstrate that they are taking all
reasonable steps to minimise disturbance, and to explain the need for noise
which cannot reasonably be avoided. Timing of noisy operations is critical.
Re-use rather than demolition and reconstruction where possible, design for
quiet erection, sensitive routeing of construction vehicles, use of quieter
methods, temporary noise barriers and many other measures need to be
employed. The Mayor is investigating, with London boroughs and others,
whether a London-wide construction best practice scheme would offer
further clarity and consistency. Air quality is a primary concern. Noise issues
will be integrated as far as possible.
policy 84
Acknowledging that construction noise is excluded from the legal
definition of ambient noise, the Mayor will work in partnership with others,
as far as resources allow, to minimise the adverse impacts of construction
noise in London, including through re-use of existing buildings in
preference to demolition and reconstruction where practicable.
Setting priorities
5.12 Individual noise reduction measures may not ‘solve the problem’ on their
own. Full effectiveness often depends on what other noise sources are
present. Policy needs to be ‘joined up’, so that changing one noise does
not mean that people are just as annoyed by the next. A single measure
may, however, be an essential step towards a bigger improvement -
incremental gains can be cumulatively effective.
5.13 Some early priorities for action can be identified (see box 60). Public
consultation during preparation of this strategy showed broad support for
these priorities. 12 However, establishing more far-reaching priorities for
selecting, designing, combining and sequencing potential measures requires
much better information than is currently available. Given the very limited
resources initially available to the Mayor, this will depend on an effective
partnership with national strategy development, boroughs and specialist
agencies, within the evolving European framework. Future revisions of this
strategy will, of course, be the subject of further consultation.