Noise Surveys & Assessments

A noise impact assessment is often required to support a planning application for new development to show the effect of either, existing noise levels on your proposed development, or the effect of your proposed development on noise levels and the associated noise impact on nearby sensitive receptors such as residential dwellings.

Noise is often defined as ‘unwanted sound’ and can be from sources such as industrial noise operations, transport noise or construction activities. These noise sources can cause adverse effects on the health and wellbeing to people exposed for long periods of time.

At Via East Midlands we will engage at the outset with Local Planning Authorities and will undertake a thorough noise assessment in accordance with national and local planning policy and in accordance with the latest regulations and guidance. The assessment will often require a baseline noise survey to be undertaken to characterise the existing noise environment and through a combination of calculation and noise modelling, we can make an accurate prediction of the noise level changes associated with your proposed development. Using relevant guidance and policy, we can then compare the predicted noise levels with existing noise levels to determine the associated noise impact of your proposals, advising on any required mitigation measures to ensure your proposals are acceptable. 

It is a legal requirement for employers to undertake a workplace noise assessment if any employee is likely to be exposed to excessive levels of noise.

Repeated exposure to loud noise can lead to permanent hearing damage and every employer must ensure that where there is a potential risk to their employees of being exposed to excessive noise levels, that they have undertaken a thorough and suitable risk assessment.

Where appropriate, risk assessments should be supported by a workplace noise assessment in accordance with The Control of Noise at Work Regulations, to determine the noise exposure levels to employees and where necessary, introduce controls to minimise noise exposure to employees. Noise exposure can be minimised through a combination of measures, giving priority to controlling noise at the source, followed by other measures such as limiting the exposure time to a noise source, or through the use of hearing protection. As part of the workplace noise assessment, our team can review the effectiveness of your existing controls and ensure that any hearing protection where employed, is appropriate for the particular task that it is used for.

At Via East Midlands our consultants are Corporate Members or Associate Members of the Institute of Acoustics and are qualified to conduct acoustic consultancy work. David and Bruno, have many year’s experience between them in supplying noise surveys for a diverse range of projects and can provide expert advice and solutions.

David Collins

David first graduated as a Civil Engineer in 2001 but decided to go back to University in 2011 where he studied the Post Graduate IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control. Following successful completion of the Diploma in 2012, he went on to complete an MSc in Applied Acoustics graduating with a Distinction in 2014.

David who is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA) has worked on a varied range of projects over the last 10 years, including noise impact assessments for infrastructure developments such as new roads (£30m Gedling Access Road) a new Bus Station in Worksop and school extensions. In addition, David has undertaken Workplace Noise Assessments.

In his role as Senior Environmental Consultancy Manager, David continues to oversee the work of Bruno, while also managing the rest of the environmental consultancy team. He continues to provide expert advice to Nottinghamshire County Council Planners as Minerals Waste Planning Authority, providing detailed comments on submitted proposals for new developments with respect to noise. He is also required to attend and speak at Planning Committee from time to time and to act as an Expert Witness at Planning Hearings and Appeals on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.

Bruno Mendes

Bruno holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering (MEng) where he specialised in environmental acoustics from the University of Minho, Portugal. He has over 8 years of acoustics experience and is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA)

After finishing his Master’s, he worked for the Territorial Planning and Governance working group of the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Minho in urban environmental management projects.

The main tasks included noise and air pollution assessment, modelling and abatement, and the implementation of mitigation models for the study of the quality of the urban environment, particularly noise and air pollution, and climate change. The results of his work and research in acoustics/ air quality resulted in nine national papers being published in international journals and conferences.

Bruno joined Via East Midlands in June 2020 moving to Nottingham from Portugal. At Via, he is responsible for undertaking a range of environmental noise assessments including site measurement, calculation and modelling, across a range of sectors including residential, construction, industrial, transport, education, and occupational noise assessments. Example projects include a BS4142 Noise Impact Assessment of a new bus depot in Derby, a BS5228 construction noise assessment for the construction of a new flood alleviation scheme in Southwell Nottinghamshire, and DMRB noise and vibration assessments and associated EIA chapters for four separate road improvement schemes along the roads A614/A6097 Major Road Network corridor. Bruno also provides expert advice to Nottinghamshire County Council Planners on submissions to them as the Minerals & Waste Planning Authority.