Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is given to local planning authorities on assessing the effect of aviation noise on proposed developments through (a) Local Plan allocations and (b) individual planning applications.

National planning policy and guidance include strong protections against noise effects, making it clear that the planning system should prevent new and existing development from being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of pollution.

Plan-making and decision making need to take account of the acoustic environment and in doing so consider whether or not an adverse effect is occurring or likely to occur when development may create additional noise, or would be sensitive to the prevailing acoustic environment (including any anticipated changes to that environment from activities that are permitted but not yet commenced).

Planning guidance is clear that this can include noise pollution from aircraft, where this could subject residents or occupiers to significant noise impacts.