Background
Anderson Acoustics was commissioned by Wilbury Planning Ltd in January this year to undertake a noise assessment to discharge planning conditions associated with a prior approval application for the proposed first and second floor residential development at 16-19 East Street, Brighton. The project involves the change of use from retail (E) to form 4 no two-bedroom flats (C3).
Challenge
The proposed development site is located in a busy area with a number of restaurants and bars nearby. Hospitality venues are understood to be open until approximately 12am with Friday and Saturday expected to be the busiest periods. Therefore, to ensure that suitable internal noise levels can be achieved during these busy periods, survey data measured between 9 pm to 12 am on Friday and Saturday was used in calculations as a representative worst-case to predict internal noise levels during the night-time period.
What we did
Noise levels were recorded over a 10-day period to establish the level of environmental noise incident on the east and west façades of the site overlooking East Street and Bartholomews.
As a result, the noise impact of late-night activity on the site has been assessed to confirm the recommendations we made are suitable to ensure the amenity of future tenants remains undisturbed during the typical busy night-time periods. These noise levels have then been used for the assessment of the external building fabric including performance specifications for glazed elements such that appropriate internal noise can be achieved within habitable spaces.
Our calculations indicated that the existing glazing was suitable to be used for west facing rooms in the residential development and would provide acceptable internal ambient noise levels within the dwelling during periods where windows remain closed.
A minimum performance spectrum was provided to enable the selection of suitable glazing elements for east facing rooms. Providing glazed elements achieve the minimum spectrum suitable internal noise levels could be achieved.
We also conducted diagnostic sound insulation testing to determine the existing performance of the separating floor between all floors. The floor build-up between the proposed residential flats and the retained commercial space was reviewed with outline mitigation options proposed. This separating floor would need to perform such that future residents would not be impacted by activity from the ground floor commercial space. Suitable airborne sound insulation targets were also proposed.
Outcome
All associated conditions detailed in the prior approval were successfully discharged allowing the scheme to proceed.
