The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

44 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
Box 16: Some key spatial elements
■ The London Plan expects higher density development to meet growing
demand for homes and jobs. Densities are expected to rise in areas of
greatest demand, where capacity exists and where there are no
significant constraints.
■ The most extensive areas of development capacity identified in the
London Plan fall within four broad corridors running east, west, north
and south through and out of London. Development opportunities in
these regional corridors, where the London Plan stresses the importance
of mixed-use, relate closely, in many cases, to transport facilities.
■ The spatial geography of noise in London is diverse. Where more
development is expected, as in the regeneration corridors of the
Lee Valley and Thames Gateway, and around major new interchanges,
well-designed development offers major opportunities to
improve soundscapes.
■ The London Plan proposes a Blue Ribbon Network in which public
access to and more use of the Thames and other waterways is
encouraged, and in which water space is planned from the water
outwards. Enhancing soundscapes in sensitive locations need not stifle
working waterways or rivers.
■ The London Plan states that the boroughs should in their UDPs
include policies to minimise the adverse impacts of noise, in terms of
the location, design and operation of development, and should
promote sustainable design and construction. They should also, where
necessary, include measures to contain noise from late night drinking
and entertainment and other 24 hour activities, and, where
appropriate, promote well-managed designated locations.
Air Quality Strategy
3.39 There are strong links between noise and air quality, with obvious
overlaps in objectives and policies. Both noise and air pollutants come
mainly from the same sources. Reducing traffic volumes, encouraging
smoother traffic flows, and using vehicles running on alternative fuels
such as compressed natural gas or hydrogen, which are often cleaner and
quieter, can both reduce noise and improve air quality. However, there are
some tensions. 24 For example, the optimum traffic speeds for minimising
air pollutant emissions are not the same as those for minimising traffic
noise. Continuous building frontages can screen noise, but narrow, highsided
‘urban street canyons’ (see glossary) can hinder dispersion of
polluted air. Such tensions will need to be resolved at action plan and
operational levels, and other factors, such as safety or feasibility, will also
influence decisions.