Expert Witness – Noise – Aldi Food Stores, Hailsham
Graham Parry presented evidence at a Public Inquiry on behalf of Wealden District Council in respect of noise to support the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for an Aldi food Store within the Market area in Hailsham.
Reason No. 3 of the decision notice determined that there was potential for loss in amenity to local residents arising through increased noise, disturbance and other adverse impacts having regard to the proposed location of the access road, the extended hours of operation and activity during unsocial times, and the impact of associated car and lorry movements.
A five day noise measurement survey was carried out to characterise the ambient and background noise climate at a nearby residential property whose garden abuts the proposed car park. The existing noise levels during the proposed opening hours of the store were below 46 dB LAeq,0700-2200hrs, which supported the Council’s reason for refusal.
In order to predict the noise levels from the activities associated with the store, noise data of car park vehicle movements in an existing Aldi store were obtained. Utilising this noise data it was possible to predict the overall noise levels that would occur as a result of the worst case car movements into and out of the car park.
When the noise predictions were compared to the noise measurement survey data it was identified that there would be a large number of occasions when noise levels generated from car parking movements would significantly exceed the existing noise levels.
It was concluded that this would result in a significant impact on amenity for occupiers of property immediately adjacent to the proposed development site.
The appeal was refused by the Planning Inspectorate.
