Noise Management Plans & Section 61 Agreements

Engage our expert acoustic consultants to prepare a legally binding Section 61 agreement.

The impact of construction activities noise and vibration emissions can be significant. Increasingly, Local Authorities (Councils) are concerned about the impact to residents.

At HA Acoustics, we prepare noise management plans and a legally binding Section 61 Agreement for construction sites. This helps to ensure that the best practice of development is undertaken. Carefully determined noise management plans protect residents from noise, and vibration and protects developers from restrictive Section 60 notices being served by the Local Authority.

The Control of Pollution Act 1974, Section 61 is commonly referred to when discussing construction or demolition related noise and vibration pollution impact on the environment. A Section 61 application is made by a construction or demolition firm to the local authority, at HA Acoustics we can make this application, on a companies behalf. A Section 61 it is an application for consent to carry out works, which are likely to have a significant impact on the neighbourhood due to its generation of noise and vibration. A section 61 application outlines the works that are planned to take place, the proposed working hours of the site and a plan to mitigate potential noise and vibration impact by best practical means.

The benefit of a construction or demolition company applying for a Section 61 demonstrates to the local authority that a sensible, pro-active approach to environmental safeguarding is being undertaken. The Section 61 agreement and noise management plans outline the methods that are in place to minimise disruption to the local area, thus reducing the potential for noise complaints from local residents.

The other benefit to having a Section 61 consent is that the local authority may not issue a section 60 notice (limiting works), therefore by having a Section 61 in place, it minimises the likelihood of the contractor’s work being stopped, as a mitigation plan is already in place. Without the Section 61 Agreement in place, the Local Authority is able to impose more stringent conditions at any point during construction through the Section 60 notice and enforce more onerous restrictions on site operations or plant type.

At HA Acoustics we work with developers to implement their programme of works, proposed operating hours and type of plant to see their project through. We undertake a baseline noise survey to determine the existing noise climate. From this data, we can put together a Section 61 application.

Typically, our Section 61 application includes:

• A site plan showing nearest noise sensitive receptors (schools, hospitals, residential and places of workship,
• Details on the main contractors contact details
• Objectives of the works to be carried out, e.g. demolition of a building, construction of an airport runway, construction of a block of flats
• Results from the baseline noise survey
• Proposed hours of work
• Incorporation of a Gantt chart / timescale of events
• Evidence that noise, vibration and dust impact are considered, details of mitigation to reduce the emissions, protect the environment and local residents.
• Details of a noise, dust, vibration monitoring regime either as periodic spot-checks, continuous monitoring or continuous remote, real-time monitoring stations.

If you’re a property developer, project manager or a contractor contact HA Acoustics for more information. We’ll work with you to get an agreement in place to enable your project to proceed through a carefully set out Section 61 agreement. Where necessary, we’ll work alongside you throughout the entire development providing either periodic spot-check measurements or continuous remote long-term noise, dust and monitoring stations installed to contiously provide data and enable alerts to be triggered when activities exceed pre-agreed levels, thus giving early warning to project and site managers. Our acoustic consultancy expertise is well placed to handle questions from the local authority and ensure that your works are undertaken in accordance with “Best Practicable Means” and abide by all the restrictions through the demolition/ construction works on-site.

At HA Acoustics, we can:

• Predict the noise and vibration levels from demolition and construction activities at the nearby noise sensitive buildings,
• Provide advice on how to implement best practicable means for site work
• Work with the agent, contractors and developer to obtain prior consent for noisy works during demolition and construction.
• Install long-term continuous, remote noise, dust and/or vibration monitoring stations.
• Investigate any exceedance triggers, noise complaints and ensure that predicted noise and vibration levels are not exceeded.