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6 Aligning Noise Action Planning

6.1 Aligning Initiatives

6.1.1 Road and Rail Noise

The Transportation Draft Action Plan addresses the issue of noise from road and rail which will have an affect on the agglomeration in more detail. The relevant strategic policies are summarized below.

At a national level Scotland's National Transport Staregy, published in December 2006 by the Scottish Government, recognised transport provides a significant and positive contribution to economic growth, and to the prosperity and quality of life of Scottish people. The document built on the background of a range of documents including Scotland's Transport Future - Transport White Paper 2004 and Choosing our future: Scotland's sustainable develoment strategy, and recognised a need to work in partnership with local authorities, regional transport partnerships and transport operators to achieve the objectives.

The document recognised three key issues that will make a fundamental difference towards delivering a world class public transport system. These are as follows.

• Improved journey times and connections - making it quicker, easier and more reliable for passengers to travel between our towns and cities and across our global markets.
• Reduced emissions - making sure that Scotland takes a lead in the future of sustainable transport.
• Improved quality, accessibility and affordability - ensuring everyone across Scotland has high quality public transport choices.

The document also recognised transport users do not pay the full costs they impose on society in terms of emissions, noise and air quality, and committed to working closely with the UK Government on this issue.

This key document, setting the context for transport policy making and informing decision making for the next 20 years for the then Scottish Executive and key partners, has provided direction to a series of related policies and strategies.

Transport Scotland has begun the Strategic Transport Projects Review ( STPR), a nationwide study for Scotland, which will recommend a programme of interventions for implementation between 2012 and 2022. The STPR will focus on identifying those interventions that most effectively contribute towards the Government's Purpose of promoting sustainable economic growth. Work on the STPR started in summer 2006 and the study will report to Ministers in the summer of 2008. The STPR will make recommendations on a portfolio of land-based transport interventions to be taken forward between 2012 and 2022. This will establish the basis for the ongoing development of Scotland's transport infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st Century. Environmental Assessment, including assessment of transport noise emissions, will be a significant component of this review.

To provide clarity on nationally significant transport priorities two major projects, the Forth Replacement Crossing and the Edinburgh Glasgow Rail Improvements Study have been fast tracked. The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Project will electrify over 350 track kilometres of railway, covering the core Edinburgh to Glasgow route, the Cumbernauld Line and the Dunblane/Stirling line to Edinburgh and Glasgow. The project will also assess the benefit in electrifying the remainder of the Shotts Line. The benefits of electrification include lower in service noise generated in comparison to diesel.

With regard to future road projects, the M74 for example will include low noise road surfacing, suitable noise barriers, and appropriate landscaping. With these measures, overall, the indications are that more properties and a larger population would experience decreases in noise levels than increases, and there would be an overall net benefit from the scheme.

In December 2006, Scotland's Railways was published, setting out Scottish Ministers vision for the rail network over the next 20 years. Scotland's Railways accompanies the National Transport Strategy, showing how rail can contribute to achieving the three strategic outcomes for transport of improving journey times and connections, reducing emissions and improving quality, accessibility and affordability. Leading on from this, the High Level Output Specification ( HLOS) is the next step in firming up medium-term requirements, setting out the detail of what Scottish Ministers want the rail industry to deliver between 2009 and 2014 on behalf of Scottish rail passengers and freight users. The HLOS confirmed the Scottish Ministers' aspiration for the rail network include the delivery of services that minimise the impact on the environment and ensure that rail is a real alternative to road and air travel for passenger and freight travel and environmentally superior both within Scotland and for cross-border journeys. The Transportation Noise Action Plan has a clear cross cutting role with this aspiration.

With respect to roads, the Road Asset Management Plan for Scottish Trunk Roads April 2007 to March 2009 sets out how Transport Scotland currently manages, or intends to manage, the trunk road network and the service this will deliver for road users. In addition the Transport Scotland Development Management Guidance sets out the approach to be adopted by Transport Scotland in regard to their Development Management and Development Plan responsibilities when engaging with the development community in Scotland. This guidance is intended to assist everyone involved in the planning/development process in Scotland but particularly Local Authorities, Consultants and major developers.

At a regional level the Seven Regional Transport Partnerships have, or are in the process of developing their Regional Transport Strategies. These will address environmental issues including noise. This should result in reduced traffic levels, cutting air pollution and traffic noise.

At a local level The Local Authorities Transport Strategies have a very important role to play in reducing noise. The strategies will help, for example, secure modal shift to sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. This should result in reduced traffic levels, cutting air pollution and traffic noise

The Transportation Noise Action Plan forms policy which can be taken account of for the next round of Local and Regional transport strategies, in approximately 3 to 5 years.

At a UK level CIRIA are currently taking forward a Noise and Vibration Issues in Urban Development project. This project will aim to provide practical advice on noise and Vibration issues for those involved in undertaking developments next to infrastructure. It will look at how to address these issues and come to sensible decisions.

The Department for Transport ( DFT) is leading on reserved transport matters for the UK. They are committed to a transport system which balances the needs of the economy, the environment and society. They have conducted research on the Assessment of the existing and proposed tyre noise limits and an Examination of Vehicle Noise Test Procedures, two areas where a reduction n transport noise could be achieved.

The UK rail industry is at the forefront of international railway noise and research and maintains close involvement with European developments such as Silent Freight and Silent Track.

6.2 Planning and Noise

The relationship between the planning system and noise was highlighted in section 1.2 PAN 56 ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/pan/pan56-00.htm) builds on principles set out in SODD Circular 10/1999 Planning and Noise and takes account of the recommendations of the Noise Review Working Party ( HMSO, 1990). It broad general terms PAN 56:

• indicates how noise issues should be handled in development plans and development control;
• outlines ways of mitigating the adverse impact of noise;
• provides specific guidance on noisy and noise-sensitive development;
• gives guidance on the use of planning conditions relating to noise.

The transposition of the END into the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006 clearly alters the backdrop on which noise should be considered in terms of planning. NMAs and Quiet Areas may require to be material considerations in development plans. Furthermore the very strategic nature of the published noise contour maps and their potential use for land use planning must be clarified in any future planning guidance. As has been previously stated (see Section 1.3) it is important to appreciate that the maps produced show an average noise level for an average day in the year calculated on the basis of a 10m grid a height of 4m above ground level therefore cannot be used to determine the level for any specific property. It would therefore be a mistake to try to categorise any site at ground floor level in terms of the Noise Exposure Categories given in the Scottish Executive Planning Advice Note 56 ( PAN56) ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/pan/pan56-00.htm).

6.3 Noise Reduction Measures in Force and Projects in Preparation

The City of Edinburgh Council and the adjoining local authorities have been proactive in managing noise for many years and current good practice has been established over the past 30 to 40 years. In particular Environmental Health Officers responsible for the enforcement of noise and nuisance legislation have developed good working relationships with planning, and transport professions within the local authorities in order that Environmental Noise issues are addressed through:

• the Planning and Development Control process
• the design and maintenance of transport infrastructure, road and rail
• Air Quality Action Plans
• Regional Transport Strategies and Local Plans

6.4 Existing Local Initiatives Aimed at Reducing Noise

6.4.1 Transport

There are obvious links between traffic and noise pollution. At a national level legislation places a responsibility on the highway authority, to provide a compensation package, normally sound insulation, to residents who are adversely affected by a newly constructed road or by significant changes to an existing road eg the addition of a carriageway. This is taken into account at the design stage.

6.4.2 The City of Edinburgh's Local Transport Strategy ( LTS)

The Street Management Hierarchy set out in the LTS can help reduce the impact of noise and vibration as will managing the impact of lorry and bus diversions required because of weak bridges and other restrictions on the network.

The Local Transport Strategy has a very important role to play here and should have a positive impact upon human health. This is because the LTS policies to secure modal shift to sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport should result in reduced traffic levels and thus cut air pollution and traffic noise.

Consequently, increases in levels of physically active trips on foot and by bicycle can be expected.

Edinburgh is connected by a number of trunk roads (including motorways such as the M8 and M9) and A roads which are heavily used by commuter and resident traffic. Highway generated traffic noise has two main causal factors; engine noise and noise generated by tyre contact with the road surface. Therefore the noise generated by traffic experienced by residents in Edinburgh is dependant on traffic flows, speed, vehicle mix and the designation of local roads. Thus traffic noise varies across Edinburgh depending on these connected factors.

Over the period 1st April 2005 to 24th January 2006 the City of Edinburgh Council received 11 complaints regarding aircraft and 16 regarding traffic. However, this may not reflect the real level of public concern as the Council have no authority over either source of noise, and in the case of aircraft the public can complain directly to the Civic Aviation Authority ( CAA).

The LTS can potentially significantly affect levels of traffic related ambient noise. The Strategic Environmental Assessment process in the LTS addresses noise as follows.

6.4.3 Regional Transport Strategy

The regional transport strategy for the South East Scotland (currently under review) is produced by SEStran which includes representatives from Fife, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Borders, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh Councils.

The objectives of the strategy include:

• addressing barriers to the use of public transport, including cost.
• 'Environment' - to ensure that development is achieved in an environmentally sustainable manner:
• enabling sustainable travel / reduce car dependency.
• tackling local air quality and transport related noise.

Current policy also includes "In the development of new infrastructure, appropriate measures will be taken to minimise the adverse impacts of transport noise". The policy also states that as a stakeholder, SEStran will engage with the Scottish Government's Noise Mapping team to influence where possible, the programme of interventions arising from the action plan.

6.4.4 Planning

All three Planning Authorities within the study area are bringing forward replacement local plans to comply with the Edinburgh and Lothians Structure Plan 2015. The Finalised Edinburgh City Local Plan will be subject to a Public Local Inquiry next year before hopefully being adopted in 2009. The Finalised Midlothian Local Plan was subject to a Public Inquiry in 2007. The Report of the Inquiry was received in Spring 2008, and Midlothian Council would expect to adopt this plan before the end of 2008. The Finalised East Lothian Local Plan was subject to a Public Inquiry and is expected to be adopted later this year.

Local plans include policies that either directly or indirectly impact on Environmental Noise, for example:

• Policies designed to ensure that new development will not be permitted where there will be significant adverse effects for health, the environment and amenity unless appropriate mitigation to minimise any adverse effects can be provided.
• Developments, including changes of use, which would have a materially detrimental effect on the living conditions of nearby residents will not be permitted.
• Policies that provide a framework to put in place conditions of development that would mitigate adverse environmental effects of traffic generation.
• Policies which seek to protect areas from adverse affects of particular classes of development such as Surface Mineral Extraction and Renewable Energy.
• Development will not be permitted in built-up areas which detracts materially from amenity of area (noise could be such a factor)

A full description of Local Plan Policies can be found at; Edinburgh , Mid Lothian, East Lothian

6.4.5 Local Air Quality Action Plans

Air quality is monitored both nationally and locally. The City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council, along with all other local authorities in Scotland, are required to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas against objectives for a number of air pollutants of particular concern for human health. If this work indicates that any objective is unlikely to be achieved by the due date, the authority concerned must declare an Air Quality Management Area and produce an action plan outlining how it intends to tackle the issues identified.

Air Quality Action Plans will be taken into account as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment. In addition any proposed mitigation measures should be cross referenced to the Air Quality Action Plans. It is also proposed that the Air Quality Action Plans should be examined for any measures that affect the noise climate.

6.4.6 Estimates in Terms of the Number of People Affected

There are a number of strategic policies that have the potential to affect the whole agglomeration and consequently the whole population. However, within the Candidate Noise Management Areas it is estimated that approximately 15100 people will be affected by any measures that may be taken to manage environmental noise

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