6th
January
2012
Atmos Consulting noise analysts help sawmill secure planning approval for 24/7 operation
Noise and town planning consultants at environmental specialists Atmos Consulting have completed a successful noise monitoring and modelling project which demonstrated to local planners that extended working hours at Newbridge Sawmill in Powys would not result in unacceptable noise pollution for local residents.
Newbridge Sawmill is located on a 10 ha site in the heart of Wales, two miles from the spa town of Llandrindod Wells. The sawmill processes roundwood into sawn timber of lengths from 3.0 - 4.8 metres, and it is an important local employer. It has previously been restricted to 16 hour days with no operations on Saturday afternoons or Sundays; but this restriction has now been lifted. Newbridge Sawmill now has permission to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to Atmos Consulting's comprehensive analysis of the potential noise propagation that would result from the extended hours. 24/7 working will enable BSW to expand operations and increase employment at the site, providing a valuable jobs boost to the area.
Working with local environmental health and planning officers, BSW Timber and Atmos established noise criteria. Atmos was then able to demonstrate that with any combination of plant in operation, and assuming worst-case scenario downwind conditions, no local resident would be subject to external noise exceeding the agreed night-time level of 40dBA (roughly equivalent to a stream running or a refrigerator humming).
Subsequent on-site monitoring simulating the newly-permitted overnight operation has proved the computer-modelled predictions of noise propagation to have been accurate. Further, off-site monitoring will now be undertaken, in accordance with Powys Council requirements, in order to ensure continued compliance with the noise level limits.
Environmental noise assessment is increasingly important, with planners and environmental agencies placing ever more stringent requirements on developers and industry. Atmos Consulting simplifies the process of noise management, providing effective noise design advice for new developments and taking a pragmatic approach to mitigation of existing noise problems.
Atmos' experience in noise assessment covers a wide range of market sectors including wind farms, biomass plants, hydro schemes, PPC permitted heavy industry, housing, commercial developments, and transportation.
Find out more about our noise consultancy services.
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