Council approves ‘noise slum’

In recent years, only very small-scale residential development has been permitted within the areas affected by high levels of noise from Luton aircraft. Luton Borough Council changed all that in May 2009 when it approved the development of 400 flats next to Luton Parkway Station where they will be subject to horrifically high levels of noise from both aircraft and trains.

The planning application for this development, known as Stirling Place, was opposed by the Airport operator (LLAOL) and LADACAN. If it goes ahead, it will increase the number of dwellings within the 63 dBA Leq daytime noise contour from 32 (AMR 2007) to 432 and the number within the 57 dBA Leq night noise contour from 153 to 553.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) refused to “call-in” the application for a public inquiry despite the noise levels’ being likely to rise to levels which would break Government policy on environmental noise.

Safety concerns

LADACAN also objected to the application on public safety grounds as, although the site is not in the Public Safety Zone (PSZ), there is a very high risk of an aircraft crash in this location and, as the population density will be 10 times that assumed in the PSZ policy, a large number of casualties would result.

Luton & District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise - site updated 05 September, 2010