Temple has been appointed by the Department for Transport (DfT) to provide advice and support in the determination of appeals related to construction noise on HS2.
Sections 60 and 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 (‘the COPA’) apply to the works necessary to construct HS2. As such, HS2 is required to obtain consent from the relevant local authorities for the works proposed. In cases where a local authority refuses to give consent (Section 61) or serves notice (Section 60), appeals are determined by the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under various HS2 Acts.
To assist the Secretaries of State in determining an appeal, Temple will undertake an independent investigation using our expertise and experience in noise and vibration to provide a recommendation to the Secretaries of State.
Temple has undertaken significant acoustic work on HS2, in the design and planning, and by supporting various contractors in the construction. To maintain our independence, we have built our team of both in-house acoustic experts and Temple Associates. This allows us to review each appeal to ensure that the individuals advising are not conflicted by previous involvement.
The contract will run until August 2027 with an option to extend for up to August 2029.