The noise challenges of brownfield site development
The new Labour government has outlined its plans to get Britain building by utilising vacant brownfield and grey belt land – but one challenge overlooked is the impact of noise.
Here, we look at the noise challenges posed by both brownfield and grey belt land, and the way Echo Barrier can help overcome them.
Noise pollution on brownfield and grey belt land
The location of brownfield land in often dense, highly-populated urban areas throws up numerous challenges, with noise being one of – if not the – most important to consider.
Noise regulations such as those laid out in the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and Environmental Act 1990 are in place to protect local populations from harmful levels of noise.
That means the risk of noise complaints is high, and effective community relations strategies are therefore of critical importance.
But that isn’t to say the problem is exclusive to brownfield land. A new term has been coined for brownfield sites or less desirable plots of land in rural areas, namely grey belt land.
Both have been identified as key areas for development by the new government – and with the reintroduction of housing targets and pledges to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years, the opportunities for developers and contractors alike are rife.
Many residents in more rural areas can be passionately defensive of their localities and as such will pay close eyes on developments which cause a noise nuisance.
It is therefore imperative, whether on brownfield or grey belt land, to invest in noise abatement technology such as those available through Echo Barrier.
Why Echo Barrier?
Echo Barrier and our products have been trusted by developers and contractors across the UK for more than a decade – and have been successfully deployed during numerous brownfield projects.
Our temporary barriers don’t just protect people from harmful levels of sound, they help shield businesses from fines and shutdowns.
Our barriers can reduce sound energy by as much as 99% at certain frequencies.
All our products are designed to be easily installed to existing site fencing by just one worker – and also provide a defence against the spread of dust into the local area.
They’re also just as easy to roll up, store and put away once the job is done, meaning they can be quickly moved to the next source of noise on-site or your next development.
Planning to play your role in getting Britain building again? Click here to find the right barrier for your site.