Noise and Planning

• When planning a development, noise needs to be considered
• When a noise assessment may be required
• Air source and ground source heat pumps

When planning a development, noise needs to be considered

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that new and existing developments need to be prevented from causing, or being put at an unacceptable risk of, noise pollution.

When reviewing planning applications we will therefore take noise impact into account. We advise developers and their consultants to help ensure their planning applications:

• avoid significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life
• mitigate and minimise adverse impacts on health and quality of life
• where possible, contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life

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When a noise assessment may be required

In some circumstances you may need to submit a noise assessment in support of your planning application. This would examine both the existing noise environment, and the likely impact of the new development. For example, if you were planning to build homes in an area with potentially high road traffic noise, or build a public house or nightclub that may generate increased noise late at night.

To help you decide whether it's appropriate for you to submit a noise assessment please see the Planning Noise Advice guide (below), which has been jointly developed by local authorities in Sussex:

• Planning Noise Advice Document (PNAD) Sussex (November 2023) (1,262KB)

For more information on NPPF please see:

• National Planning Policy Framework - on the GOV.UK website

If you need further advice about noise and planning please contact the Planning Team.

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Air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GDHP)

Heat pumps are part of the government's strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, the technology generates noise when in operation and as a result it has the potential to cause significant adverse effects to people living nearby.

For domestic installations the applicant should, where possible, follow the permitted development scheme following the MCS 020 March 2025 guidance:

• MCS 020 information and guidance - on the MCS website

This guidance provides a screening process for the installation of the ASHP, that if met requires no further noise assessment.

Planning permission will be required where the noise limits set out in the above permitted development scheme cannot be achieved or where the ASHP model is not covered by the scheme. For example, ASHPs above a certain size are not covered. The above guidance provides more detail on this, but you can also check with your installer if you are unsure.

The planning department, when considering the application for an ASHP, will balance overall the relevant National Planning Policy Framework objectives and consider other national planning statements and local plan policy when making their decision. Noise is only one aspect and is not looked at in isolation.

To help us make this decision it is best to provide as much information as possible with your initial application.

We recommend that you provide a copy of the MCS 020 assessment, even if the initial assessment has shown to have failed the screening process. The assessment contains relevant information on the ASHP model, the noise it creates, its position and distance to the nearest sensitive facade, the number of reflective surfaces, and details of any barriers, etc.

We also recommend you provide photographs of the proposed ASHP position and view from that position to the nearest noise sensitive facade identified in the initial screening process as this may negate the need for a site visit.

Finally, we recommend you provide a copy of the ASHP manufacturer's data sheet for the chosen model.

The environmental health officer will consider this information and will take a view on the noise aspect of the proposal and will provide advice to planning officer. In most cases for domestic installation of a ASHP for heating and hot water the above information should be sufficient. If not, the environmental health officer's advice to the planning officer will explain why and what more information is necessary.

Planning Applications for larger ASHPs, typically used to heat swimming pools, that are not covered by the MCS 020 scheme may need to be supported by an acoustic assessment produced by a suitably qualified acoustician. More information on these assessments and the information required is set out in the 'Planning Noise Advice Document (PNAD) Sussex' document (see above).

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