Policy information sourced from Three Rivers Development Management Policies DPD
DM9 Contamination and Pollution Control
Amenity and Pollution
The Council will refuse planning permission for development, including changes of use, which would or could give rise to polluting emissions to land, air and/or water by reason of disturbance, noise, light, smell, fumes, vibration, liquids, solids or other (including smoke, soot, ash, dust and grit) unless appropriate mitigation measures can be put in place and be permanently maintained.
Contaminated Land
The Council will only grant planning permission for development on, or near to, former landfill sites or on land which is suspected to be contaminated, where the Council is satisfied that:
- There will be no threat to the health of future users or occupiers of the site or neighbouring land; and
- There will be no adverse impact on the quality of local groundwater or surface water quality.
Air Quality
Development will not be permitted where it would:
- Have an adverse impact on air pollution levels, particularly where it would adversely affect air quality in an Air Quality Management Area and/or
- Be subject to unacceptable levels of air pollutants or disturbance from existing pollutant sources.
Noise Pollution
Planning permission will not be granted for development which:
- Has an unacceptable adverse impact on the indoor and outdoor acoustic environment of existing or planned development
- Has an unacceptable adverse impact on countryside areas of tranquillity which are important for wildlife and countryside recreation; or
- Would be subject to unacceptable noise levels or disturbance from existing noise sources whether irregular or not.
The Council will ensure that noise from proposed commercial, industrial, recreational or transport use does not cause any significant increase in the background noise level of nearby existing noise-sensitive property such as dwellings, hospitals, residential institutions, nursing homes, hotels, guesthouses, schools and other educational establishments. When assessing proposals for residential development near a source of noise we will have regards to Appendix 4 which indicates the appropriate response to the level of noise by source.
Lighting Proposals
Development proposals which include external lighting should ensure that:
- Proposed lighting schemes are the minimum required for public safety and security
- There is no unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring or nearby properties
- There is no unacceptable adverse impact on the surrounding countryside
- There is no dazzling or distraction to road users including cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians
- Road and footway lighting meets the County Council’s adopted standard
- There is no unacceptably adverse impact on wildlife
- Proposals in the vicinity of habitats and habitat features important for wildlife ensure that the lighting scheme is sensitively designed to prevent negative impacts on use of these habitats and habitat features.
For more information please see the Three Rivers Development Management Policies DPD