Diminishing reliability of Standards on Environmental Noise

Revisions to British Standards in 2014 introduced significant changes in guidance on noise with complex and unexplained limitations. This results in multiple interpretations, assessment methodologies and outcomes depending on the approach applied. Community noise is generally divided into sources of environmental (transport), neighbour and neighbourhood noise (typically arising from commercial sites). The boundaries between different sources is increasingly blurred in the UK with practitioners arguing guidance for one is directly transferable to others. Confusion and ambiguity regarding the interpretation of standards appears beneficial to developers and noise producers who may emit excess noise and those wishing to develop land in noisy areas of the UK that might otherwise be refused permission. An inherent inability to enforce noise controls arises as any interpretation of compliance with standards is duty bound to apply the least onerous interpretation as it is subject to a criminal standard of proof. This problem is compounded with interpretation of controls by UK courts permitting contradictory outcomes and different meanings. Widespread ambiguity, uncertainty and contradictory interpretations now introduced are demonstrated using practical examples. Nullification of existing controls protecting communities in the UK and future guideline principles are explored.