Temple were appointed to undertake noise and vibration assessment to accompany the planning submission for a proposed mixed-use scheme at Land off Milton Avenue, Cambridge on behalf of Bidwells.
The site lies within the land to the north of Cambridge North Station, to the west of the railway, to the south of the Aggregates Railhead (AR), Transport Infrastructure Area and the Cowley Road Waste Management Area (WMA), off Milton Avenue, Cowley Road and Cambridgeshire Guided Busway.
The project comprises the development of 6 new buildings intended for business use and 3 new buildings, consisting of 10 blocks, for residential use, and public open space, as well as multi-story car park serving both the railway station and the commercial development.
The purpose of the assessment was to determine the noise and vibration impact on nearby sensitive receptors, and where required, provide advice on mitigation measures for further noise and vibration mitigation to comply with national and Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) requirements.
The proposed development is near other buildings, the majority of which are noise sensitive residential dwellings with the potential to be impacted by the noise from the plant serving the scheme.
Temple has completed the noise and vibration assessment as part of the Environmental Statement (ES) Noise and Vibration Chapter. The assessment has been based on noise and vibration surveys and predictions undertaken for the site. The assessment established that the main sources of noise incident on the site and surrounding receptors are road traffic noise (including the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway) and rail noise. The site is also exposed to industrial noise from the AR facility and the Cowley Road Industrial estate, including the WMA. The noise from these facilities was not prevalent during the attended survey; however, it has been concluded that sound insulation measures to control road and rail traffic noise would have the effect of minimising the impact of the industrial noise.
Following the Environmental Statement (ES) submission, Temple was provided with a document containing objections for the Cambridge North development from CCC in its role as Minerals and Waste Planning Authority (MWPA). The objections associated with noise have been made relating to the nearby WMA and AR.
The CCC stated that these sites are safeguarded under the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2021, and due to the proximity of both the AR and the WMA to the proposed development, there is a concern that the future users of the site could be at risk of noise and vibration impacts from both sites.
Where noise sensitive development is proposed near safeguarded existing or foreseeable future noise generating sources, it is incumbent upon the applicant to demonstrate that the proposals will create an acceptable acoustic environment for the future users. Appropriate acoustic standards should be achieved through the application of good acoustic design.
To address CCC concerns, Temple’s Noise and Vibration team, experienced in environmental noise modelling, proposed to undertake a supplementary desktop assessment of noise emissions from both sites to assess the risk they pose to future users of the proposed development, and where required, to provide outline mitigation measures for further noise attenuation in support of discharging the objections placed on the proposed development.
To calculate the level of impact from the AR and WMA operations on the proposed surrounding buildings, a noise model was developed within the Datakustik CadnaA software based on the provided reference noise levels for each noise emitting item during the AR train delivery, and the noise limit set out in the planning consent from the WMA operations at the boundary of the site. The assessment has been carried out in line with relevant guidance and national standards.
The assessment has predicted the noise levels of the AR and WMA operations at the proposed surrounding buildings, and Temple’s Noise and Vibration team compared the results with the existing representative background noise levels.
The assessment concluded that the potential noise impact from activities and plant associated with the operations of the AR and WMA sites is likely to have a low impact on the proposed nearest residential or commercial receptors due to contextual factors discussed and summarised in the assessment and the outlined mitigation measures, and that the operations of the AR and WMA are unlikely to adversely impact the proposed nearest residential or commercial receptors.
The CCC was satisfied with the assessment, conclusions, and Temple’s Noise and Vibration team’s responses to the reasons for refusal, discharged the objections placed on the proposed development and the project could proceed to the next stage.
The assessment and conclusions provided the client with confidence that the potential impact of the AR and WMA operations had been considered and that an acceptable acoustic environment for the future user will likely be achieved.