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Report

Hawkins Lane, Burton Upon

Trent

Environmental Noise

Assessment of a Proposed

Tesco Store Development

Prepared by

J P Murfitt BEng (Hons). MIOA

Date 3rd July 2014

Project No 1011096

lisa.robertsText BoxP/2014/01128

Received 27/08/14


Contents

1.0 Introduction 3

2.0 Criteria 4

3.0 Survey Details 9

4.0 Assessment Details 11

5.0 Assessment Conclusions 19

Appendices

Appendix A Site Plan Showing Noise Measurement Locations

Appendix B Acoustic Terminology


1.0 Introduction

1.1 Sharps Redmore Limited (SR) has been instructed by Tesco Stores Limited to undertake an environmental noise assessment for a proposed development at Hawkins Lane, Burton Upon Trent. SR have previously issued an assessment, dated 8th December 2010, for a similar proposal that was granted planning permission and two subsequent assessments in 2011 to address conditions upon that planning consent.

1.2 The proposed development will comprise a foodstore with associated petrol filling station, car parking and service yard. A non-food retail unit will adjoin the main store building and an A3/A5 unit is proposed in the North West corner of the site.

1.3 The assessment’s objective was to determine how noise from the proposed development would affect the amenities of existing local residents and receptors. In this respect SR has considered the following components of the development:

car parking activity

service yard activity

delivery vehicle activity on the access/egress road

home delivery activity

petrol filling station

traffic activity on the public highway

mechanical services plant

non-Tesco units

1.4 Each of these components is considered in turn, followed by a cumulative assessment.

1.5 Section 2 of this report contains an analysis of the appropriate assessment methodology and criteria for each of the components of noise listed in paragraph 1.3 above with respect to the Government’s Planning Policy and relevant British Standards.

1.6 To a certain extent, the impact from a given noise source is a function of the existing noise climate of an area. Section 3 of this report sets out the findings of a noise survey undertaken in the area. Section 4 contains the assessment findings for each of the component sources listed at paragraph 1.3 above and Section 5 contains the conclusions of the assessment.

1.7 A location plan showing the noise measurement locations is included as Appendix A and Appendix B includes an explanation of acoustical terminology used.


2.0 Criteria

2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the Government’s economic, environmental and social planning policies for England and “these policies articulate the

Government’s vision of sustainable development.” In respect of noise, Paragraph 123 of

the NPPF states the following:

“Planning policies and decisions should aim to:

avoid noise from giving rise to significant adverse impacts27 on health and quality of

life as a result of new development

mitigate and reduce to a minimum other adverse impacts27 on health and quality of life

arising from noise from new development, including through the use of conditions,

recognise that development will often create some noise and existing businesses

wanting to develop in continuance of their business should not have unreasonable

restriction put on them because of changes in nearby land uses since they were

established;28 and

identify and protect areas of tranquillity which have remained relatively undisturbed by

noise and are prized for their recreational and amenity value for this reason”

27 See Explanatory Note to the Noise Policy Statement for England (Department for the Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs).

28 Subject to the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and other relevant law.

2.2 The NPPF reinforces the March 2010 DEFRA publication, “Noise Policy Statement for

England” (NPSE), which states three policy aims, as follows:

“Through the effective management and control of environmental, neighbour and

neighbourhood noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable

development:

avoid significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life;

mitigate and minimise adverse impacts on health and quality of life; and

where possible, contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life.”

2.3 Together, the first two aims require that no significant adverse impact should occur and

that, where a noise level which falls between a level which represents the lowest

observable adverse effect and a level which represents a significant observed adverse

effect, then according to the explanatory notes in the statement:

“… all reasonable steps should be taken to mitigate and minimise adverse effects on

health and quality of life whilst also taking into consideration the guiding principles of

sustainable development. This does not mean that such effects cannot occur.”


2.4 It is possible to apply objective standards to the assessment of noise and the effect produced by the introduction of a certain noise source may be determined by several methods, as follows:

i) The effect may be determined by reference to guideline noise values. British Standard (BS) 8233:2014 and World Health Organisation (WHO) “Guidelines for Community Noise” contain such guidelines.

ii) Alternatively, the impact may be determined by considering the change in noise level that would result from the proposal, in an appropriate noise index for the characteristic of the noise in question. There are various criteria linking change in noise level to effect. This is the method that is suited to, for example, the assessment of noise from road traffic because it is capable of displaying impact to all properties adjacent to a road link irrespective of their distance from the road.

iii) Another method is to compare the resultant noise level against the background noise

level (LA90) of the area. This is the method employed by BS 4142:1997 to determine

the likelihood of complaint from noise of an industrial nature. It is best suited to the

assessment of steady or pseudo-steady noise.

Guideline noise values

2.5 There are a number of guidance documents that contain recommended guideline noise values. These are discussed below.

2.6 British Standard 8233:2014 is principally intended to assist in the design of new dwellings; however, the Standard does state that it may be used in the assessment of noise from new sources being brought to existing dwellings.

2.7 The WHO guideline values are appropriate to what are termed “critical health effects”. This means that the limits are at the lowest noise level that would result in any psychological or physiological effect.

2.8 The WHO/BS 8233 guideline noise values are summarised in the following table:


TABLE 1: WHO/BS 8233 guideline noise values

Document Level Guidance

World Health Organisation “Community Noise 2000”

LAeqT = 55 dB Serious annoyance, daytime and evening.

(Continuous noise, outdoor living areas)

LAeqT = 50 dB Moderate annoyance, daytime and evening.

(Continuous noise, outdoor living areas).

LAeqT = 35 dB Moderate annoyance, daytime and evening.

(Continuous noise, dwellings, indoors)

LAeqT = 30 dB Sleep disturbance, night-time (indoors)

LAMAX = 60 dB Sleep disturbance, windows open at

night. (Noise peaks outside bedrooms, external level).

LAMAX = 45 dB Sleep disturbance at night (Noise peaks inside

bedrooms, internal level)

BS 8233:2014 “Sound

Insulation and noise

reduction for buildings”

LAeqT = 55 dB Upper limit for external steady noise. (gardens

and patios).

LAeqT = 50 dB Desirable limit for external steady noise.

(gardens and patios).

LAeq 16 hours = 35 dB Resting, living room day. (Internal – steady noise)

LAeq 16 hours = 40 dB Dining, dining room day. (Internal – steady noise)

LAeq 16 hour = 35 dB Sleeping, bedroom day

(Internal – steady noise)

LAeq 8 hours = 30 dB Sleeping, bedroom night (Internal – steady noise)

2.9 For LAeqT criteria the time base (T) given in the documents is 16 hours for daytime limits

and 8 hours for night time limits. When assessing impact, this has the tendency to smooth

out the hourly variations in noise level. As such, our calculations are carried out to a 1

hour time base, which is a more stringent assessment than is given in the guidance

documents.

Changes in noise level

2.10 Changes in noise levels of less than 3 dBA are not perceptible under normal conditions

and changes of 10 dBA are equivalent to a doubling of loudness. This guidance has been

accepted by inspectors, at inquiry, to encompass changes in noise levels in the index LAeqT.


2.11 The following table shows the response to changes in noise (known as a semantic scale):

TABLE 2: Change in noise level

Change in noise level LAeqT dB

Response Impact

15 - Severe

Assessment of Fixed Plant BS 4142:1997

2.12 As explained, this British Standard enables the likelihood of complaint to be determined

according to the following summary process:

i) Determine the background noise levels, in terms of the index LA90, at the receptor

locations of interest.

ii) Determine the specific noise level of the source being assessed, in terms of its LAeqT

level (T = 1 hour for day or 5 minutes for night), at the receptor location of interest.

iii) Correct (penalise) the rating level, if the source noise is of tonal or intermittent

nature so as to attract attention. The correction factor is 5 dB. The resultant level is

termed the rating noise level.

iv) Compare the rating noise level with the background noise level; the greater the

difference between the two, the higher the likelihood of noise complaint.

v) Differences (rating – background) of around +10 dB indicate that complaints are

likely; a difference of +5 dB is of marginal significance; a difference of –10 dB is a

positive indication that complaints are unlikely.

vi) The general intent of the planning system is to ensure that a development does not

result in “significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life.” The avoidance of

this is, in our judgement, equivalent to the BS 4142 marginal significance criterion of

+5 dB, although common for a planning condition to require a rating level not to

exceed the background noise level, subject to a minimum requirement (see below),

of 35 dB

vii) It should be noted that the scope and methodology of the standard do not apply

where background noise levels are low (i.e. less than 30 dB LA90) or for rating levels

which are lower than 35 dB. It is our view, therefore, that in order to pass the

“reasonableness” test (NPPF, paragraph 206, Government Circular 11/95) no

planning condition should require a rating of less than “very low”.


Methodologies Selected

2.13 With all of the above comments in mind, the components of noise have been assessed as

follows:

i) mechanical services plant - BS 4142:1997

ii) delivery activity - guideline values

iii) car parking activity - guideline values

iv) road traffic - change in noise level


3.0 Survey Details

3.1 Surveys of noise levels were undertaken during the daytime of Tuesday 11th March 2014

(1300-1600) and during the quietest period of the early morning of Wednesday 12th

March 2014 (0200-0400).

3.2 The weather during the daytime survey was dry, warm and sunny (1/8 cover) with a

temperature of around 14oC. There was a gentle breeze from the East North East (less

than 5ms-1). During the early morning survey the weather remained dry with similar wind

and a reduced temperature of around 4oC. All roads were dry at all times.

3.3 Three measurement locations were used during the surveys and represent the closest

sensitive properties to the development. Location 1 was near 17 Hawkins Lane, 9m from

the kerb. Location 2 was on the pavement between 11 and 12 Hawkins Lane, 2 metres

from the kerb. Location 3 was on the pavement between 102 and 103 Horninglow Street,

2 metres from the kerb. Appendix A shows these locations on a site layout plan.

3.4 All measurements were undertaken using a Norsonic type 140 sound level meter. The

meter allows direct measurement of the following indices: LA10,T, LA90,T, LAeq,T and LAmax (see

Appendix B). All measurements were taken at approximately 1.5 metres above the

ground and are considered free-field levels except Location 2 which was a ‘façade’

location next to a brick wall. Immediately before and after each set of measurements

were carried out, the SLM was calibrated using a Norsonic type 1251 acoustic calibrator

with a maximum variation in level of just 0.1 dB.

3.5 The following levels were recorded:

Table 3: Noise Measurement Results at Location 1: 17 Hawkins Lane

Time Noise Level (dB)

LA10,T LA90,T LAeq,T LAmax

1300-1315 68.8 50.4 64.6 75.7

1425-1440 69.7 50.7 65.8 77.6

1500-1515 68.9 51.2 65.7 77.7

0223-0228 59.9 36.2 61.1 78.8

0300-0305 57.3 38.0 52.6 63.4

0314-0319 59.8 38.3 55.0 64.4


Table 4: Measurement Results at Location 2: 11/12 Hawkins Lane (Façade)

Table 5: Noise Measurement Results at Location 3: 102/103 Horninglow Street

3.6 Daytime noise levels at all locations were dominated by road traffic noise from local and

distant roads. This included heavy vehicles visiting the Coors brewery facility with its

entrance near to Location 2.

3.7 At night (0200-0400), road traffic was the dominant noise source including mostly distant

traffic noise and occasional vehicles on local roads. Some birdsong was also noticeable.



1317-1332 72.4 50.5 69.3 85.8

1443-1458 71.7 51.0 67.5 80.8

1517-1532 72.5 51.1 69.0 82.6

0230-0235 57.2 39.7 54.9 71.5

0307-0312 55.9 38.1 51.1 62.9

0321-0326 59.4 39.5 56.1 69.0



1342-1357 78.0 64.8 74.9 85.4

1400-1415 77.4 62.9 73.7 83.8

1540-1555 78.3 63.8 74.9 82.8

0241-0246 64.1 37.1 66.8 84.6

0247-0252 70.2 36.9 69.6 83.8

0332-0337 64.1 39.0 67.2 87.7


4.0 Assessment Details

Car Park Activity 4.1 SR has undertaken an extensive series of measurements around the boundary of Tesco

car parks. From these measurements it has been found that sound levels at 10 metres

from the boundary of a car park vary from LAeq,1hr = 43 to 48 dB during the day period.

Peak levels, from door/boot slams are “worst-case”, typically, LAmax= 66 dB at 10 metres.

4.2 The higher LAeq,T noise levels occur at car park locations that are relatively close to the

entrance of the store building and at peak trading periods.

4.3 Using the baseline noise levels displayed in paragraph 4.1 above, with due allowance for

distance attenuation and reflection from the building façade and 10 dB allowance for

attenuation from proposed screening, the noise levels at the nearest property (17-19

Hawkins Road, 15 metres away) would range from LAeq,1hr = 32 to 37 dB.

4.4 At night customers have typically been found to park within 30 metres of the store

entrance, which would lead to a night time LAmax of 58 dB at the nearest residential

properties (first floor, no attenuation assumed).

4.5 It can be seen that noise from car park activity would be below the daytime and night

time WHO guideline values and BS 8233:2014 values (Table 1 above, assuming a 10-15 dB

reduction for noise through open windows) indicating that there would be no effect from

noise.

4.6 Therefore it is concluded that noise from car park activity would not be disturbing.

Service Yard Activity

4.7 In order to calculate noise levels from service yard activity at proposed stores, SR has

undertaken an extensive series of surveys at existing yards.

4.8 From these surveys the following baseline levels have been established:

Table 6: Baseline Service Yard Activity Noise Levels

Event

LAmax, dB Arrival Unloading Departure

Level (dB) Duration (mins) Level (dB) Duration (mins) Level (dB) Duration (mins)

69 2.5 66 30.0 72 0.5 79


4.9 The noise emission levels displayed are maxima, and are applicable at 10 metres from the

activity.

4.10 Using these baseline noise levels the noise emission levels at the façade of the nearest

residential premises, 171 Hawkins Lane, have been calculated. The LAeq,1hr would be 37 dB

and the LAmax level would be 54 dB. The values include an assumed screening attenuation

of 10 dB for the intervening buildings and 2m boundary fencing. These values are below

the daytime and night time WHO guideline values and so no effects would occur.

4.11 Therefore it is concluded that noise from service activity would not be disturbing.

Traffic activity on the site access/egress road – delivery vehicles

4.12 From previous SR measurements of delivery vehicle pass-bys at speeds typical for those

found on service roads such as this, a delivery type vehicle is indicated as generating an

LAmax = 75 dB at 10 metres.

4.13 To enable an assessment to be made over a period of time, the Single Event Noise level

(SEL) for each vehicular movement must be established. In practice this is limited to the

time during which the actual noise is within 10 dB(A) of the maximum and may be

approximated from:

SEL = LAmax + ∆A, where

∆A = 10 log (((t2 - t1)/2)tref), and

t1 and t2 are the 10 dB down points of a vehicle drive-by and tref is one second. (Source -

The Noise Council = “A guide to measurement and prediction of the Equivalent

Continuous Sound Level”).

4.14 The 10 dB down points can be calculated on the basis of vehicle speed and the

attenuation with distance that would be experienced as a vehicle approaches and departs

the reception point. For the vehicle speed of 32kph (20mph), ∆A = 5 dB and the resulting

SEL is 80 dB(A) at 10 metres.

4.15 The LAeq,T can now be calculated from the equation:

LAeq,T = SEL + 10 log n - 10 log T - 10 log d1/10 - screening + 10 log (angle of view/180)

where

n = number of events in the time period

T = number of seconds in the time period

d1 = distance from centre line of road to receiver

angle of view = angle of view of the access road

4.16 The nearest noise sensitive premise is 17 Hawkins Lane at a distance of 15 metres from

the centre of the service road. The maximum angle of view of the service road is taken as

120 degrees and 10 dB screening attenuation has been included.


4.17 For a store such as this it is reasonable to assume a reasonable worst case average of 2

delivery vehicle movements (1 each way) for each hour of the daytime period. Some of

these movements will be of large articulated vehicles and the others will be smaller

vehicles and therefore this prediction using data for larger delivery vehicles is

conservative. This results in a calculated (facade) daytime noise exposure at the nearest

nearby noise sensitive residential property of LAeq,1hr = 34 dB.

4.18 It can be seen that daytime noise from vehicles on the service road are below the

guideline values (Table 1 above).

4.19 For night time, the consideration must also be for the sleep disturbance criterion which is

based on the LAmax noise levels. On the basis of an LAmax of 75 dB (free field) at 10 metres,

the maximum unmitigated noise level at the first floor façade of 17 Hawkins Lane (with no

attenuation assumed) is calculated as LAmax = 74 dB(A), above the WHO guideline value for

night.

4.20 The existing planning permission for a Tesco store on this site mitigated this by not

permitting deliveries between 2300 and 0600 and this condition could again be applied

(for operational reasons, it is desirable for delivery vehicles to arrive on site from 0600 for

daily deliveries of produce such as milk, bread and newspapers when existing noise levels

are already rising).

4.21 This approach would mean that any effects from delivery noise would be negligible.

Home Shopping Activity

4.22 SR has obtained noise data for the home shopping activities at several superstores. In

noise terms there are two activities: firstly, there is the period when the van’s on-board

refrigeration equipment is used to provide the initial cooling of the refrigerated section

which takes about one hour, secondly, there is a period of up to two hours where the van

is being loaded and the refrigeration equipment operates intermittently. SR understand

that the use of the refrigeration plant is only needed in the morning; during the

remainder of the day sufficient refrigeration takes place when the van is on its rounds.

4.23 The collected data is shown below. It will be noted that the actual loading activity is not

noisy. The noise of the refrigeration equipment is continuous for the first hour at LAeq,1hr =

57 dB, normalised to 10 metres. After this, the loading commences and during this

activity the refrigeration equipment operates for about 20% of the time which gives a

noise level of LAeq,1hr = 50 dB at 10 metres. It is considered that the intermittent operation

of the refrigeration equipment attracts a 5 dB(A) character “penalty” for a BS 4142

assessment.

Home shopping activity rating noise levels at 10 metres

Initial cooling phase: LAeq, 1hr = 57 dB

Loading phase: LAeq, 1hr = 55 dB

(with 5 dB penalty for intermittent cooling)

Loading activity: LAeq, 1hr = 37 dB

(no cooling)


4.24 The proposed plan shows five home shopping delivery vehicles in the service yard.

Assuming that each loading bay is occupied the rating noise levels above could be

increased by 7 dB(A).

4.25 The distance between the home shopping vehicle loading bays and the closest residential

property, 171 Hawkins Lane is 150 metres. Taking into account distance attenuation

(20 log 10/150 = -24 dB) and with an assumed 10 dB screening attenuation from the

intervening buildings (including the proposed store) considered, the resultant worse case

(i.e. five home shopping vehicles, on the initial cooling phase, operating simultaneously)

rating noise level from home shopping activities at 1 metre from the façade will be

LAeq,1hr = 30 dB (57+7-24-10).

4.26 Background noise levels (LA90,T) in this area during the previous measurement survey for

the period 0600-0700 were at least 47 dB. Using the measured values, an assessment to

BS 4142 would result in a difference of = -17 dB(A) which is 7 dB below the level where

complaints are unlikely and thus meets the requirements of PPS 1 that “significant

environmental impacts should be avoided”.

4.27 Therefore it is concluded that noise from home shopping activity would not be disturbing.

Petrol Filling Station

4.28 The proposed site layout plan drawing shows a six island pump forecourt. The nearest

noise sensitive properties to the petrol filling station (PFS) are 7-12 Hawkins Lane,

approximately 30 metres away to the south.

4.29 SR has undertaken noise measurements of activity at PFS forecourts. The noise level of

these activities was found to not exceed LAeq,1hr = 55 dB at 10 metres (daytime - no

operation of the PFS forecourt is proposed at night). Assuming these noise levels

throughout the day is considered very much ‘worst case’ leading to a robust assessment.

These noise levels were measured in free field conditions.

4.30 The distance attenuation to properties in Hawkins Lane is 10 dB (using 20 log 10/30) and

therefore calculated PFS forecourt activity noise levels at 1 metre from the façade of the

property will therefore be LAeq 1 hour = 48 dB (55-10+3).

4.31 This level is below the guidance noise values for noise during the daytime period and

therefore there will be no adverse noise effects.

Traffic Activity on the Public Highway

4.32 For the 2010 assessment, SR used traffic flow data by Transport Planning Associates, the

project transport and traffic consultants and predicted a maximum change in noise level

of 0.6 dB from traffic on any road in the vicinity of the store. These changes were

therefore below 3 dB and imperceptible and the assessment concluded that changes in

road traffic noise would not be disturbing.

4.33 For the current proposals, Transport Planning Associates have calculated, as reported in

their Transport Assessment, that there will be “significantly lower volumes of traffic” due

to these proposals compared to the 2012 consented scheme and therefore predicted

noise levels due to road traffic will be lower than previously forecast and the conclusion

remains that changes in road traffic noise would not be disturbing.


Mechanical Services Plant

4.34 There will be a need for mechanical services plant as part of this development. This will

need to be controlled to preserve the amenity of existing residential and other noise

sensitive properties. It is recommended that the Rating Noise level from plant should be

controlled so as not to exceed a level more than 5 dB higher than the existing minimum

background noise level (see Appendix B) which would conform to the requirements of

NPPF to avoid “significant adverse impacts”.

4.35 With the results of surveys in mind, a recommended condition is as follows:

“The rating level of noise emitted from fixed plant and equipment on site during the day period of 0700 to 2300 hours shall not exceed LAeq,1hr = 55 dB at any existing noise sensitive premises and during the night period of 2300 to 0700 hours shall not exceed LAeq,5min = 41 dB at any existing noise sensitive premises. The measurements and assessment shall be made according to BS 4142:1997.”

4.36 This condition is based on model condition 17 of PPG 24, Annex 4 and is considered

achievable using mitigation as necessary.

4.37 The 2010 Planning Permission included a condition requiring a “BS 4142 Noise Impact

Assessment in respect of fixed plant and machinery to demonstrate that noise levels

emitted from these will not exceed background noise levels as measures ta the nearest

noise sensitive receptors” . A report to address this, using the selected plant at that time,

was produced by SR in November 2011 and showed compliance with the required noise

levels.

Non-Tesco Units

4.38 The usage of the other non-food retail space, adjacent to the main store, and the A3/A5

unit to the north west of the site will not generate any significant noise that could affect

nearby residential users other than potential noise sources that have already been

discussed for the main store. Furthermore, all distances involved are equal to or greater

than those assessed for the main store and there is a 2m brick wall proposed between the

A3/A5 unit and the nearest residential property, 98 Horninglow Street. The proposed

condition for mechanical services plant should be applied to the whole development.

Cumulative Effects

4.39 For each individual receptor listed below the cumulative noise level will include

contributions from a mixture of the following:

assessment value (from above) for that property group as corrected for individual

property location etc. where not shown above.

2011 Mechanical Services Noise Assessment (re Planning Condition 6)

4.40 Maximum noise levels (LAmax) from transient events (e.g. service vehicle pass-by, customer

car door slams) will be distinct from one another and therefore will not combine to give a

cumulative noise level.


171-178 Hawkins Lane

4.41 These properties will be subject to the following daytime noise levels (LAeq,16hr)

Car Park Activity: 34 dB (70m)

Service Yard Activity: 39 dB

Service Road Traffic: 32 dB (60m, 5 dB screening)

Home Shopping: 35 dB (110m)

Petrol Filling Station: 32 dB (110m, 5 dB screening)

Mechanical Services Plant: 33 dB

TOTAL, LAeq,16hr (daytime) 43 dB

4.42 These properties will be subject to the following night time noise levels (LAeq,8hr):

Car Park Activity: 28 dB

Home Shopping: 26 dB (1 hour of operation)


TOTAL, LAeq,8hr (night time) 34 dB

17-20 Hawkins Lane

4.43 These properties will be subject to the following daytime noise levels (LAeq,16hr):


Service Yard Activity: 37 dB

Service Road Traffic: 34 dB


Petrol Filling Station: 36 dB (40m, 10 dB screening)




4.44 For night time these properties are assessed at first floor level (bedrooms) which benefits

less from the attenuation provided by the proposed screening. They will be subject to the

following night time noise levels (LAeq,8hr):





7-12 Hawkins Lane


Car Park Activity: 40 dB (35m)

Service Yard Activity: 35 dB (135m to docks)

Service Road Traffic: 39 dB (12m, 45 degree view)


Petrol Filling Station: 48 dB









98-105 Horninglow Street


Car Park Activity: 37 dB (15m, 10 dB screening from brick wall)

Service Yard Activity: 34 dB (145m to docks)

Service Road Traffic: 24 dB (80m, 90 degree view, 10 dB atten’n)


Petrol Filling Station: 34 dB (50m, 10 dB attenuation)




Car Park Activity: 32 dB (55m to cars, no attenuation)




4.49 The cumulative noise assessment has shown that noise from the development will be

below the daytime and night time guideline values (Table 1) at all residential properties

indicating that there would be no effects from noise.


5.0 Assessment Conclusions

5.1 The report includes a noise assessment of a proposed Tesco store at Hawkins Lane,

Burton Upon Trent.

5.2 The report assesses proposed noise sources in relation to existing residential properties.

Noise sources considered include car parking activity, service activity, service vehicle

activity on the site access / egress road, home delivery activity, the petrol filling station,

traffic activity on the public highway, mechanical services plant and non-foodstore units.

5.3 During the night time period, maximum noise levels from service vehicles on the site

access / egress road would be above WHO guideline levels. It is therefore proposed to

limit deliveries to 0600-2300 in line with the conditioned 2010 planning permission.

5.4 A planning condition is recommended to control noise from mechanical services plant so

as the rating level according to BS 4142 does not exceed the measured minimum

background noise level plus 5 dB.

5.5 Noise from all other activities will be within British Standard and WHO guidelines at all

residential properties for both the daytime and night time periods and therefore there

will be no noise effects from this development.

APPENDIX A

SITE PLAN SHOWING NOISE MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS

Figure 1: Site Plan Showing Noise Measurement Locations

Location 2 Location 1

Location 3

APPENDIX B

ACOUSTIC TERMINOLOGY

Acoustic Terminology

AMBIENT NOISE

The total encompassing sound in a given situation at a given time. Most often described in terms

of the index LAeqT.

DECIBEL (dB)

The ratio of sound pressures that we can hear is a ratio of 106 (one million:one). For

convenience, therefore, a logarithmic measurement scale is used. The resulting parameter is

called the ‘sound pressure level’ (Lp) and the associated measurement unit is the decibel (dB). As

the decibel is a logarithmic ratio, the laws of logarithmic addition and subtraction apply. The

threshold of normal hearing is in the region of 0 dB, and 140 dB is the threshold of pain. A change

of 1 dB is only perceptible under controlled conditions.

dB(A)

The unit generally used for measuring environmental, traffic or industrial noise is the A-weighted

sound pressure level in decibels, denoted dB(A). An ‘A’-weighting network can be built into a

sound level measuring instrument such that sound levels in dB(A) can be read directly from a

meter. The weighting is based on the frequency response of the human ear and has been found

to correlate well with human subjective reactions to various sounds. A change of 3 dB(A) is the

minimum perceptible under normal conditions, and a change of 10 dB(A) corresponds to a

subjective halving or doubling of the loudness of a sound.

EQUIVALENT CONTINUOUS SOUND LEVEL

An index often used for the assessment of overall noise exposure is the equivalent continuous

sound level, Leq. This is a notional steady level which would, over a given period of time, deliver

the same sound energy as the actual time-varying sound over the same period. Hence

fluctuating levels can be described in terms of a single figure level. The ‘A’ weighted statistical

sound level over a time period, T, is denoted LAeq,T.

FAÇADE NOISE LEVEL

The noise level adjacent to the façade of a building, usually at a distance of 1 metre.

FREE FIELD NOISE LEVEL

The noise level away from the façade of a building or other structure.

HERTZ (Hz)

Unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second. Frequency is related to the pitch of a sound.

MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM NOISE LEVELS

The maximum and minimum noise level identified during a measurement period. Experimental

data has shown that the human ear does not generally register the full loudness of transient

sound events of less than 125 ms. Fast time weighting has an exponential time constant of 125

ms which reflects the ear’s response. The maximum level measured with fast time weighting is

denoted as LAmax,f. The minimum level measured with fast time weighting is denoted as LAmin,f.

Slow time weighting (S) with an exponential time constant of 1s is used to allow more accurate

estimation of the average sound level on a visual display.

STATISTICAL NOISE LEVELS

For levels of noise that vary widely with time, for example road traffic noise, it is necessary to

employ an index which allows for this variation. The L10, the level exceeded for ten per cent of

the time period under consideration, has been adopted in this country for the assessment of

road traffic noise. The L90, the level exceeded for ninety per cent of the time, has been adopted

to represent the background noise level. ‘A’ weighted statistical noise levels are generally used

and are denoted LA10, LA90 etc. The reference time period (T) is normally included, e.g. LA10, 5min or

LA90,8hr. LA10(18 hour) is the arithmetic average of the 18 individual LA10,1hr values between 06:00

and 24:00.

TYPICAL LEVELS

Some typical noise levels are given below:

Noise Level dB(A) Example

130 Threshold of pain

120 Jet aircraft take-off at 100 metres

110 Chain saw at 1 metre

100 Inside disco

90 Heavy lorries at 5 metres

80 Kerbside of busy street

70 Loud radio (in typical domestic room)

60 Office or restaurant

50 Domestic fan heater at 1metre

40 Living room

30 Theatre

20 Remote countryside on still night

10 Sound insulated test chamber

0 Threshold of hearing

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