The Assessment of Discotheque Noise for a Planning Application

One of the most effective ways in which a Local Authority can prevent noise nuisance is by the use of the Town and Country Planning Legislation.Department of the Environment Circular lO/73lli lays down principles and specifies criteria to guide Local Authorities in their plan making and development control activities.It also gives examples of model conditions which may be attached to planning consents in respect of noise.An essential companion document is Circular l/85l2] of the Department of the Environment which deals with the use of conditions in granting planning permission and also gives examples of model conditions.It is important to note however that .neitherCircular deals specifically with the noise annoyance from discotheques or amplified music.Thus within the District Council organisation it is normal pactice for the Planning Department to liaise with the Environmental Health Department for general and specific advice on noise in respect of applications for planning permission.This, of course, may be where noise is moving to people or people are being brought to noise. THE APPLICATIONIn this particular case a planning application was received from the owner of a wine bar to convert an adjoining building, or a room over the wine bar, into a function room.The Planning Department requested the Environmental Health Department's views.The initial application was to convert the office shown as 'existing office' in Figure 1 for the use.A Visit and discussion with the applicant identified the nearest residential property and established the likely use of the room.The applicant wished to have as much freedom as posible in his use of the room.This meant that the amplified music produced could be very loud and would include modern music with the infamous heavy bass component.