Noise Impact Assessment – Millerhill, Dalkeith

Forth Noise & Vibration was commissioned by Yeoman McAllister Architects to undertake a Noise Impact Assessment for a proposed Pre-Delivery Inspection Centre and Valet Building at Millerhill, Dalkeith. The assessment was prepared to support the planning and design process and considered noise from both fixed mechanical plant and operational activities associated with the development.

The challenge

The project was at an early design stage, with detailed mechanical and electrical specifications still to be finalised. The assessment therefore needed to provide a robust prediction of likely operational noise using representative plant data and appropriate conservative assumptions.

Nearby residential properties formed the key noise-sensitive receptors, requiring consideration of both external plant noise and breakout from workshop and valet activities.

Our approach

Forth Noise & Vibration developed an environmental noise model using SoundPLAN, with external plant noise assessed in accordance with ISO 9613-2.

Representative acoustic data were adopted for the proposed mechanical plant, while noise from internal workshop and valet activities was assessed using a building-breakout methodology. Predicted noise from the different sources was then combined and assessed at the nearest residential receptors.

The assessment was structured to provide a proportionate design-stage evaluation while avoiding false precision where final equipment selections and operational details were not yet available.

The outcome

The assessment provided the design team with a clear understanding of the likely operational noise associated with the proposed development and demonstrated how plant and building-related noise could be considered against the relevant planning requirements.

The work provided an acoustic basis for progressing the development through the design and planning process, while identifying the circumstances in which the assessment should be reviewed once final plant specifications became available.

Services provided

• Noise Impact Assessment
• Planning noise assessment
• SoundPLAN modelling
• ISO 9613-2 noise prediction
• Mechanical plant noise
• Building breakout assessment
• Commercial development acoustics
• Planning support