Noise pollution can adversely affect the quality of life for
both residents and workers in the City. Exposure to unreasonable
noise can be disturbing and can even affect our general health if
uncontrolled.
New: We need your
views on City noise issues
Draft City of London Noise Strategy - Public Consultation (until 31
March 2012)
We would like your views on the draft City of London Noise
Strategy (below); which noise issues and problems should it focus
on and how these should be addressed; in particular:
- Do you think the noise problems and issues identified in the
draft strategy are the right ones and are there any omissions?
- Do you have any comments on the proposed policies and actions
to address the noise issues identified?
- Do you have additional ideas to reduce noise problems?
- Do you or your organisation already have noise management
solutions in place that you think could be used more widely?
- Do you think the strategy strikes the right balance between
minimising noise and the need to improve and maintain the City's
infrastructure and services?
Download the Draft City of London Noise
Strategy (1.07mb)
Please return your comments on the strategy by 31 March 2012 so
we can use your feedback to prepare the final document for City
Corporation approval. Comments should be e-mailed to
tony.bride@cityoflondon.gov.uk
or posted to:
Tony Bride, Pollution Team Manager,
Markets and Consumer Protection Department,
City of London
Guildhall
P.O. Box 270
London EC2P 2EJ
How we deal with noise problems
All complaints about noise are investigated by the officers in
the Pollution Team. The majority of noise pollution in the City
arises from commercial activities (construction, plant noise, road
works, etc). In most cases the Pollution Team deals with noise
problems by assessing whether the noise is ‘unreasonable’. This
involves taking into account a number of factors such as loudness,
time of day, how often it occurs and how long it lasts. Noise which
is unreasonable is then dealt with as a 'statutory nuisance' under
the powers in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Complainants should be aware that Pollution Team officers
usually have to witness the noise before taking formal action. If
the noise is thought to be a statutory nuisance the City of
London must serve an 'abatement notice' on the person or
organisation responsible. The scope of the notice will vary with
different circumstances and may require an immediate stop to the
noise or prohibit its recurrence. In some cases, particularly where
works are necessary, a specified time may be given for compliance.
Failure to comply with an abatement notice is an offence and the
City of London can prosecute.
How you can deal with a noise
problem
The pollution team has produced a step by step on how you can
deal with a noise problem, which includes advice on taking your own
legal action.
Download A guide to resolving nuisance problems
here (247kb)
What noise problems we deal
with
The Pollution Team is able to deal with most cases of nuisance
noise including:
- construction site noise
- road work noise
- noise from pubs and clubs
- plant and air conditioning noise
- noise from commercial premises
- intruder alarms
However, the Pollution Team has no powers to deal with railway,
road traffic, aircraft / helicopter noise or
unruly behaviour in public streets.
Construction and Deconstruction
(Demolition) Site Noise
The Pollution Team does a lot of work with various stakeholders
to prevent noise nuisance from occurring in the first instance.
This includes close consultation with construction companies and
road contractors to give advice on control measures prior to works
commencing. Planning applications for new or modified developments
are also referred to the Pollution Team for comments. To assist
these companies, the Pollution Team has produced a “Code of
Practice for Deconstruction and Construction Sites”. Companies are
strongly advised to read this document prior to commencing work on
site.
The Pollution Team has recently carried out an update and
revision of the Code of Practice. It now contains a much-revised
section on waste management in addition to new sections entitled
Emergency Work, Materials Handling and Storage, and Climate Change
and Sustainability.
Download the Code of Practice for Deconstruction
and Construction (2011 Edition) (963kb)
The Pollution Team has also established the provision of “quiet
hours” for noisy construction activities during business hours in
order to reduce the impact of noise on businesses within the City.
These “quiet hours” are generally between 10.00am-12.00noon and
2.00pm-4.00pm and prohibit construction sites and road works from
carrying out noisy activities during these times.
In some circumstances, the City of London can give prior
approval (via a Section 61 Notice) for noisy construction work. The
application form must be completed and forwarded to the Pollution
Team at least 28 days before work commences.
Application Form for a Section 61
Notice (28kb)
Explanatory Notes for a Section 61
Notice (31kb)
The Site Information Sheet provides the Pollution Team with
important contact information about contractors. It must be
completed and forwarded to the Pollution Team within five days
following the start of activities on site.
Download the Site Information
Sheet (16kb)
The Site Hours Variation Request Sheet must be completed to
request permission to do any works that fall outside the standard
working hours (Monday to Friday 8.00am – 6.00pm, Saturday 8.00am –
1.00pm).
Download the Site Hours Variation Request
Sheet (19kb)
The Mobile Crane Authorisation Notice must be completed and
forwarded to the Pollution Team. A member of the Pollution Team
must then signed and return the form to the contractor prior to any
activity commencing.
Download a Mobile Plant Authorisation
Notice (24kb)
Background noise monitoring
Background noise monitoring is undertaken at several locations
within the City. This information can be viewed using our
interactive
map.
How to contact the Pollution
Team officers
During office hours
The Pollution Team officers attempt to answer complaints
immediately during business hours. If it is not possible to respond
immediately, the officers will respond to complaints within 24
hours. This may involve a visit or phone contact with the person(s)
being affected and/or a visit or phone contact with the premises in
question.
To contact a Pollution Team officer during business hours, you
can ring 020 7332 3630 or send an email to
publicprotection@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Out-of-hours
An out-of-hours service is also provided to deal with those
urgent complaints arising outside normal office
hours. An officer is contactable through the Guildhall switchboard
at all times outside normal office hours.
The Guildhall switchboard telephone number is 020 7606
3030.
Further information
For further information about noise issues in the City, please
contact:
Steve Blake
Assistant Director ( Environmental Health and Public
Protection)
City of London
Department of Markets and Consumer Protection
P.O. Box 270
Guildhall
London EC2P 2EJ
Tel 020 7332 1604
Fax 020 7332 1316
Email
publicprotection@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Report anti-social
behaviour online
During business hours you can also ring 020 7332 3630 to
report your noise concern.
Aircraft / helicopter noise
The Civil Aviation
Authority provides a focal point for aviation related environmental
enquiries and complaints and can be contacted by using the
following details:
Aviation Related
Environmental Enquiries
K6 G2
CAA House
45-59 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6TE
Tel 020 7453
6524/5
Email
aree@caa.co.uk
Web
www.caa.co.uk/aree
Noise information links
For further general information about noise, you can view these
websites:
Government noise policy (general) - Department for
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/
Government noise policy (transport) - Department for
Transport
www.dft.gov.uk
European noise policy
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/noise/home.htm
Mayor of London
http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/clean-calm-city/noise
Noise at work
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/noisindx.htm
Railway noise
www.networkrail.co.uk
Aircraft noise
www.caa.co.uk/environmentalinformation
Environmental Protection
www.environmental-protection.org.uk
London Noise Map
http://www.londonnoisemap.com/
If you would like to find a noise consultant, you can view a
list of noise consultants on the following website:
Association of Noise Consultants
http://www.association-of-noise-consultants.co.uk/
For advice on controlling noise from construction sites see
the City of London Code of Practice or the following
websites:
BRE - Building Research Establishment
http://www.bre.co.uk/
CIRIA - Construction Industry Research and Information
Association
http://www.ciria.org.uk/