Review of existing Section 106 Agreement - Thanet District Council

Directive 2002/49/EC does not introduce noise limit values, but intends thatthe action plans should address, in particular, areas where noise exposure isconsidered harmful to health, and to preserve environmental noise qualitywhere it is good. The Government is currently developing a separate NationalAmbient Noise Strategy for England which will build on the requirements of theDirective.In its review of current night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstedthe Department for Transport reflects the requirements of Directive2002/49/EC, where changes to some of the evaluation criteria and standardsdiffer from those currently used in the production of information, for examplenoise contours. It is therefore likely that some of current practice andmeasurement criteria will need review after completion of the DfT evaluations,altering standards and interpretation of effects at the Designated Airports.By implication, therefore, such revised standards and criteria are likely to bereflected in the procedures and criteria adopted as industry “best practice” bythe remaining non-designated UK airports, in a way appropriate to the scale ofcurrent and planned air transport activity at an airport.2.6 EC Directive 85/337EC Directive 85/337 requires Environmental Assessment (EA) for certaintypes of project to be carried out before planning permission is granted. It hasbeen implemented for projects that require planning permission by the Townand Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations1988.For a limited number of projects listed in Schedule 1 to the Regulations, suchas major aerodromes, EA is required in every case. For a wider range ofprojects listed in Schedule 2 to the Regulations, including local roads, othernew aerodromes, industrial estate development, disposal of non-toxic wasteand mineral extraction, EA is required if the proposal is likely to havesignificant environmental effects.Where EA is required, the likely effects of noise will be one of theconsiderations to be dealt with in the environmental statement prepared by thedeveloper and submitted to the local planning authority with the planningapplication.2.7 Planning Policy GuidancePlanning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) set out Government policies ondifferent aspects of landuse planning. Local authorities must take theircontent into account when preparing development plans and determiningplanning applications. The PPGs also assist developers an indication of thefactors to take into account when preparing proposals for development.Landuse policy around airports, and under the principal arrival and departureroute tracks, is an important factor in helping minimise adverse impacts ofaviation, particularly aircraft noise.Whilst a local authority may take a close interest in air navigationarrangements likely to be associated with any airport planning proposal,EU00142:FINAL REPORT PAGE 6