At H&F we want our public spaces to improve the liveability of spaces, promote interaction between people in a safe environment; and to promote good health, happiness, and well-being.
Whilst there is a potential for outdoor events to cause noise related impacts, outdoor events can help to strengthen the local community around a common purpose, attract visitors to our borough and provide an opportunity to showcase local businesses and bolster the local economy.
Events could include pop-up casual and fine dining events, outdoor comedy, street theatre performances, live music, circus, dance, markets and children's activities etc. Not all of these will result in excessive noise and disturbance.
When considering noise impact, this should not be constrained to just music noise, but also that from the crowd, plant, erection and dismantling of the activities. Many of these impacts can be controlled by a noise management plan, or other measures such as times of operation and restricting permitted activities.
Depending on the type of event, its duration and potential impacts there are varying needs for different forms of control, whether that be self-regulation by the event organisers through the provision of an event hotline for low key events or the appointment of acoustic consultants for high profile music concerts.
Noise impact categories
Category 1 - High risk of noise impact
- Events where live or recorded music is a major component (classical music events, outdoor theatre etc)
- Food Festivals (where music is not incidental or where there is a significant stage element for the provision of music)
- Parties
- Events after 23.00hrs containing live music
Category 2 - Medium risk of noise impact
- Weddings / Parties after 23.00hrs with recorded music
- Promotions / Exhibitions involving an element of music
- Product Launches (music element)
- Food Festivals (low key music element)
- Outdoor events where live or recorded music is incidental
- Outdoor theatre
Category 3 - Low risk of noise impact
- Trade shows
- Car shows
- Cinemas
- Fashion shows
- Farmers markets
- Community engagement events
- Sporting activities
- Product launches (no music element)
- Conferences
- Formal dinners etc
- Craft fairs
- Family fun days
Engagement within the community
One of the key elements to the success of outdoor events is the engagement with the community and other stakeholders. Focus should therefore be made on resident and business notification plans, complaints handling procedures, hotline numbers for the community and standardising these for each event. Social media, residents groups and the use of group email and websites all assist in managing this engagement and seeking feedback.
If you need advice about any aspect of noise management you can apply for pre-application advice.
Other useful links include:
Managing noise from outdoor events with music - checklist
This advice checklist below provides noise control guidance to those planning an event with music. The advice follows national guidance contained in the Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts.
Before the event
1, Decide who will be the noise control person for the event.
2, Appoint a noise consultant/or in house noise controller. Suitable consultants can be found by contacting the Association of Noise Consultants or the Institute of Acoustics: www.association-of-noise-consultants.co.uk. Tel: 01727 896092. www.ioa.org.uk. Tel: 01727 848195.
3, Give your noise consultant a copy of the Requirements for Noise Consultants which you can find below.
4, Visit the event site and identify all properties which are likely to be affected by noise from the event. Make a list of all the addresses.
5, Choose a mobile phone number which will act as a Complaint Hotline. The noise control person must have this mobile phone with them throughout the duration of the event.
6, Write a letter and deliver it to all the addresses on the list you have made above. This letter should tell people about the event, the start and finish times and should suggest that people call the Complaint Hotline number if they want to make a noise complaint.
7, Email a copy of your letter to our Environmental Public Protection team at noise@lbhf.gov.uk. In your email, include:
- a list of addresses your letter has been delivered to
- the name and contact details of the noise control person
- the name and contact details of your noise consultant.
During the event
8, Test the Complaint Hotline number to make sure it's working. It's usually best to have the phone on 'vibrate' as you may not hear incoming calls during the performance.
9, Test the contact numbers you have for your consultant.
10, Deal with any noise complaints in a professional way and take them seriously:
- Ask the caller for their name, address and contact number.
- Advise the person that their complaint will be investigated by your noise consultant.
- Pass the details to your noise consultant and ask them to investigate.
- Ask your consultant to let you know the outcome of their investigation.
- Re-contact the person who made the complaint to let them know what action has been taken.
11, If your consultant tells you the music is too loud, you must ensure that volume levels are reduced.
12, Usually, the bass component of the music is the most disturbing, so reducing the volume of the bass is likely to help.
13, Make sure the event finishes at the advertised time and does not over run.
After the event
14, Get a post-event report from your noise consultant and email a copy to our Environmental Public Protection team at noise@lbhf.gov.uk
Requirements for noise consultants or noise controller - checklist
Before the event
1. Carry out a background noise survey at the nearest residential properties prior to the event commencing. The background noise level should be measured using a sound level meter complying with type 2 or better of BS61672: 2003. Time weighting F (fast response) should be used.
2. Carry out a sound test to ascertain the maximum music noise level that can prevail at the mixer desk so as to ensure that the specified noise levels in Table 1 below are met. This effectively calibrates the system.
3. Liaise with sound system suppliers to ensure all loudspeakers are aligned and orientated to minimise noise disturbance.
4. Any changes in plans made on the day relating to noise issues i.e. stage orientation, speaker positions must be noted and referenced in the post event report.
5. You should be present for the whole duration of the event. You should not carry out any other activities related to the event.
During the event
6. The following noise levels shall be complied with:
- Music Noise Level (MNL) should not exceed the background noise level (LA90) by more than 15dB(A) when measured over any 15-minute period during both the sound checks and the event. This level applies between 09.00 and 23.00. Measurements should be taken 1 metre from the facade of any noise sensitive premises*.
- The Sound Pressure Level, at 1 metre from the facade of any noise sensitive premises, should not exceed 71dB in either of the 63Hz or 125Hz octave frequencies.
- For events occurring between 23.00 and 09.00, the music noise should not be audible within noise-sensitive premises with windows open in a typical manner for ventilation.
* Noise sensitive premises includes premises used for residential purposes, hospitals or similar institutions, education establishments or places or worship or any premises used for any other purposes likely to be affected by the music noise.
7. You must ensure all specified music noise levels in point 6 are adhered to. You are responsible for liaising with sound engineers on noise issues. You should advise the sound engineer of any breaches in the specified music noise levels or the noise condition and require sound engineers to adjust the music noise levels to meet the requirements of Table 1. You must also advise the sound engineer of any occasions where the specified music noise levels have only just been met.
8. You should carry out noise monitoring within the venue at the sound mixer position, and at locations outside the venue throughout the event.
9. The music noise level should be measured using an integrating-averaging sound level meter complying with type 2 or better. Time weighting F (fast response) should be used. The MNL in Table 1 is in terms of 15 min LAeq, however useful control can be exercised by monitoring the LAeq over 1 minute periods. This enables an early warning of possible breaches to the 15 minute level.
10. When measuring LAeq in order to determine the music noise level, care must be taken to avoid local noise sources influencing the result. Where the local noise is intermittent, a series of short term LAeq measurements should be made of the music noise while the local source is absent or has subsided to typically low or mean minimum values. An average of these short term readings will give an estimate of the music noise level. A further option would be to measure the A weighted sound pressure level on a sound level meter complying with type 2 or better, with the time weighting set to S (slow response) when the music is at its loudest and not influenced by local noise. If the local source is continuous, a measurement of the LAeq of the local source when the music is not occurring should be made and a correction to the measured LAeq when the music is occurring made to obtain an estimate of the music noise level.
11. As with many events, the sound volume level is often increased during the event to enhance the performance. The music noise levels should be borne in mind so that the sound volume at the start of the event is not too high, hence allowing scope for an increase during the event.
12. You should be advised of all noise complaints received. You should investigate all noise complaints and take appropriate action.
After the event
13. Send a post-event report to our Environmental Public Protection team at noise@lbhf.gov.uk.
14. The report should include:
- complaints received and action taken
- monitoring results collected on the day
- details of any breaches of the noise levels specified in Table 1 and action taken
- any recommendations for future events.
Downloadable documents
The checklists above are available as downloadable documents for printing.