Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2025, to Question 22329, on Noise: Pollution Control, whether his Department has published guidance on established use in statutory nuisance complaints for (a) long-standing chiming clocks and (b) church bells.

The Statutory Nuisance Regime under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) is designed to provide protection from nuisances including noise, odour, smoke, fumes, artificial light, infestations and accumulations. Local authorities are responsible for investigating nuisance problems brought to their attention under the EPA.

If local authorities consider that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, they must serve an abatement notice (usually on the person responsible).

Further guidance on planning policy on noise, which includes advice on the agent of change’ principle, is published by MHCLG.