Background
The Mac’s Farm is a fourth-generation organic egg farm located in Ditchling, East Sussex.
In addition to the farming activities, the Farm holds a number of outdoor events in a field known as The Nest Box, as well as operating a private hire space, known as The Old Chook Shed used for various events such as weddings, private parties and live music performances.
Since early 2022, we have worked with the Farm to put in place a noise management plan for the existing operation, a programme of event noise monitoring and support with planning for a change of use application.
What we did
- Noise management plan
We were commissioned by Mac’s Farm early on in 2022 to prepare a Noise Management Plan to help safeguard the amenity of the Farm’s neighbours in accordance with relevant guidance and in the context of the baseline acoustic conditions and the nature of events held.
Where planning conditions have been revised (see below Planning stage noise impact assessment), we have also updated the Noise Management Plan as agreed with the Local Authority.
- Event noise monitoring
We have provided attended noise monitoring and reporting for a series of annual live events to ensure that the noise levels do not exceed the upper limits set in the Noise Management Plan.
At each event, we took sound level measurements during ambient and live music performances at specific points also on the boundary of the Farm to understand the potential impact at the nearest residential receptors.
- Planning stage noise impact assessment
We have provided a noise impact assessment for the proposed variant of a condition in the Prior Approval planning application related to the change of use part of the Next Box for Class A3 (restaurants and cafes) and Class D2 (assembly and leisure) uses.
The Prior Approval was given subject to a condition that this use could only be carried out in the summer ancillary to the use of the adjacent campsite. The proposal was to vary this condition so that the building can also be used in the winter independently from the camps.
Our assessment considered whether the proposed variation to the use would result in adverse impacts on neighbouring amenity and tranquility by virtue of noise and disturbance.
We concluded that the proposal would not result in an adverse noise impact. We advised several noise management controls to help keep operational sound levels to a practicable minimum. This included guidance in terms of use of windows and doors.
Result
The application to vary the condition for winter use was approved in March 2023.
A further variant was approved in May 2024 allowing for an extension to the hours music can be played indoors from 22:00 to 23:00 in line with the premises licence and to install a noise limiter to reduce sound levels within the building.
