ACCON UK Limited (ACCON) has framework contracts
with East Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council
to provide advice on noise from wind turbines.
The main part of this work involves carrying out detailed
technical reviews of the noise assessments undertaken
by other consultants and submitted to support planning
applications for onshore wind farms or single wind
turbines. ACCON advises on whether the applicant’s
assessment has been carried out in accordance with
the relevant guidance. ETSU-R-97, ‘The Assessment
and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms’ is the standard
methodology for assessing noise from wind turbines. In
2013 the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) published a Good
Practice Guide with the aim of promoting a more
standardised approach to performing noise
assessments according to ETSU-R-97. ACCON utilises
this as a key guidance document when undertaking
wind farm noise assessment reviews.
As part of each review, ACCON advises the Council if
there are any reasons to object to the application on
grounds of noise. Advice is also given on suitable
wording for planning conditions in respect of noise and
appropriate operational noise limits for the proposed
turbines. As new wind farms are often proposed near to
existing wind turbines, cumulative noise issues add to
the complexity of many of the assessments and
therefore require close scrutiny as part of the review.
ACCON has provided advice on over 30 separate wind
farms for the two local authorities so far.
ACCON also provides support to the Councils at the
initial stages of wind farm application process, such as
commenting on baseline noise monitoring locations
proposed by the acoustic consultants working for the
wind farm developer. In addition, an ACCON
representative may witness the installation of noise
monitoring equipment to ensure it is suitably
undertaken.
As part of the framework contracts, ACCON has
provided other support to East Ayrshire Council or
South Ayrshire Council including:
Expert witness services
Reviews of compliance noise monitoring
Discharge of planning conditions
Responses to panning objections.
These framework contracts are an example of ACCON
providing specialist services to support local authorities
and developing valuable, long-term working
relationships with local authority personnel.
Visit the ACCON UK Ltd website for more information on Wind Turbine Noise East Ayrshire Council & South Ayrshire Council