Guidance

Noise and vibration: environmental permit application guidance

Published 1 December 2025

Applies to England

1. When to assess the risk of noise and vibration

When you apply for an environmental permit for an operation, you must consider the potential risk of noise and vibration associated with this. You can assess the risk of noise and vibration by carrying out a noise and vibration impact assessment (NIA).

You may need to carry out an NIA:

• at the permit application stage
• when applying to vary a permit
• to comply with specific permit conditions

If your NIA shows potential risk, you’ll need to submit a noise and vibration management plan (NMP) for mitigating this risk.

You may be asked to submit an NIA and NMP if:

• your activity uses noisy plant or machinery, for example cooling equipment or fans
• you’ll be doing any noise or vibration generating operations, such as loading or unloading, shredding, shearing, crushing, grinding, combustion, using trommels and conveyors or moving bulk materials
• your activities are not contained within buildings
• some or all of your activities take place at night
• the area where you are planning to carry out your activity is sensitive to noise, for example rural areas which may have quieter background sound levels than urban areas
• there are sensitive receptors close to the site, for example houses or habitats

The Environment Agency may ask you to submit an NIA and NMP at any stage of the application process.

If your site has ongoing compliance investigations relating to noise and vibration, you must submit an NIA and NMP as part of your environmental permit application. 

2. Assessing the risk of low frequency noise (LFN)

You must find out if LFN from proposed operations could cause pollution at surrounding noise sensitive receptors. If you have identified potential LFN pollution, you must submit an NIA and an NMP.

Check the Environment Agency’s guidance on Noise and vibration management: environmental permits for more details about assessing LFN.

3. The role of the Noise Advisory Tool  (NAT)

Before using the NAT, you need to understand what the NAT can help you with.

The NAT has been developed to:

• help you know whether to submit an NIA and NMP as part of your environmental permit application
• clarify what the Environment Agency needs from you before you apply for a permit
• ensure that you pay the right fees and include all the supporting information needed – to help prevent your application being sent back to you
• be easy to understand even if you are unfamiliar with acoustics

3.1 What the NAT can be used for

You can use the NAT for:

• bespoke environmental permit applications
• applications to vary from standard rules permits to bespoke environmental permits
• substantial variations to existing environmental permits

If you are applying for minor permit variations, do not use the NAT.

For more information on the types of permit variations you can apply for, see Environmental permits: when and how you are charged.

3.2 Limitations of the NAT

The NAT is provided to help you understand how likely it is that an NIA and NMP will be requested by the Environment Agency to support your permit application. The tool can only advise and is not determinative or legally binding. You are responsible for ensuring that your responses to the questions are factual and in line with the proposed operation of the site.

The Environment Agency may ask you to give more information or submit an NIA and NMP regardless of the output of the NAT (following the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016).

The NAT relies on limited inputs and cannot consider all site-specific variables which could affect how noise pollution is perceived at noise sensitive receptors.

4. How to use the NAT

The NAT is available to download from Noise and vibration: environmental permit application guidance.

The NAT has 2 steps to complete. How you complete these steps will depend on your permit application, for example for:

• new bespoke environmental permits – complete step 1 only
• applications to change from standard rules permits to bespoke environmental permits – complete step 1 only
• substantial variations to existing environmental permits – complete both step 1 and step 2

The Environment Agency will review your responses within the NAT, which will form part of your supporting information for your permit application. You should include explanatory comments to:

• support your answers provided
• help the Environment Agency understand your site
• allow your submission to be validated

Providing false or misleading information could lead to your application being returned or legal action being taken against you.

4.1 How to complete step 1 of the NAT

When you open the NAT, you’ll begin with step 1. You must answer 7 questions about your application.

1. Activity type

Pick the activity that represents your operations.

Check the section on Sector specific guidance for the NAT for more information.

2. Activity containment

How your activity is contained can affect the risk of noise pollution outside of the site. For example, if new noise generating sources are enclosed within a building, the risk of noise pollution outside of the permitted site is reduced compared to externally located sources.

The word ‘contained’ refers to providing sheltering cover and minimising emissions of noise, particulate matter, odour and litter.

3. Operations at night

Lower background sound levels are usually heard at night. Operations carried out during this period can lead to a higher risk of noise pollution.

The night time period is defined as 11pm to 7am.

4. Operation size

Larger operations can lead to greater noise emissions than those of smaller sites.

Check the section on ‘Sector specific guidance for the NAT’ for more information on certain operation sizes.

5. Distance from site to nearest (or proposed) noise sensitive receptor

How far the residential receptor is located from the permitted site can have an impact on the risk of noise pollution.

Input the distance in metres (m) from the perimeter of the permitted site to the nearest residential receptor. Residential receptors should include existing as well as any proposed residential receivers within the planning system. This is based on what can be reasonably known by you at the time of completing the NAT.

Future residential receptors must be considered for scenarios where residential developments have outline or full planning applications submitted or granted with a local planning authority. There may be future residential receptors constructed close to a proposed or existing permitted site.

The requirements at the permit application stage will be proportional to the risks associated with the proposed receptors. Where proposed receptors are currently under construction, detailed mitigation measures will need to be proposed and implemented within timescales agreed within the permit determination.

In general, to control noise impacts, you must do the following if new residential receptors are identified near your site:

• outline or full planning application, Awaiting Decision or Pending Decision by Local Planning Authority (LPA) – provide indicative mitigation assessment in BS 4142 assessment
• full planning application, approved by LPA – provide detailed mitigation in BS 4142 assessment
• where proposed receptors are currently under construction – detailed mitigation measures will need to be proposed and implemented within timescales agreed within the permit determination

The timescales for implementing new mitigation measures can be managed through permit conditions, where appropriate.

6. Residential receptor location

Where the residential receptor is located can be an important when working out the risk of noise pollution outside of the permitted site. For example, a residential receptor located in a rural area compared to one in an urban area will be:

• subject to lower background sound levels
• more susceptible to noise pollution

You should select either rural suburban or urban, depending on what best describes the location of the residential receptor.

7. Proximity of nearest residential receptor to other major noise sources

You should select the distance between the nearest residential receptor and nearest major noise source based on the options provided. A major noise source can be a major road network or industrial noise source that is not part of your site.

You should also consider whether the noise from this other source could mask noise emissions from the proposed application site.

On completing the questions in step 1 of the NAT, you’ll be told one of the following:

• NIA and NMP are not required
• new bespoke application: Submit an NIA and NMP
• variation application: Go to step 2

4.2 How to complete step 2 of the NAT

When applying for substantial variations to existing environmental permits, you must first complete step 1 of the NAT. Answer the questions as they relate to your site based on future operations with the proposed variation in place.

If you have been told to go to step 2, you must answer 5 more questions about your application.

8. Has an NIA or NMP been previously requested by the Environment Agency?

This question asks you if an NIA or NMP has previously been requested by the Environment Agency for the existing environmental permit or due to a compliance issue.

If an NIA or NMP has been previously requested, the permitted site could be at an increased risk of noise emissions causing pollution outside of the site.

9. Will new noise generating sources or activities be introduced?

Introducing new noise generating sources or activities can lead to higher noise emissions from the site. This can:

• change the soundscape of the surrounding area
• introduce new impulsive, tonal or intermittent noise emissions
• increase the risk of noise pollution outside of the site

10. Will annual throughput increase?

Increases in throughput can cause an increase in noise emissions from the site due to more processing operations occurring. This can include, but is not limited to:

• mobile plant movements
• increased operation times of plant
• increases in tonal, impulsive and intermittent noise sources

11. Will the time during which operations occur change?

The time during which operations occur can lead to noise emissions from the site affecting more sensitive time periods.

If operations occur over the weekend or night time periods, background sound levels at residential receptors are typically considered to be lower, increasing their sensitivity to change. This increases the risk that operations at your site could cause noise pollution.

12. Will the variation change how noise-generating activities are contained?

How your activity is enclosed can affect the risk of noise pollution outside of the site.

When new noise generating sources are enclosed (full enclosure), the risk of noise pollution outside of the site is reduced. If you decide that new operations will occur outdoors, the risk of noise pollution is increased.

On completing the questions in step 2 of the NAT, you’ll be advised either:

• NIA and NMP are not required
• submit an NIA and NMP

5. Sector specific guidance for the NAT 

The following sections provide advice for completing the NAT for specific sectors. You should follow the guidance provided for your relevant sector when completing the NAT.

If you operate in a sector where there is no specific guidance, you should complete the NAT to the best of your ability and evidence your decision-making process in the space provided.

5.1 Waste handling and operation size

Waste handling activities include:

• waste recycling transfer, treatment or processing
• hard materials handling or recycling, or both – for example end of life vehicles, scrap metals and glass
• wood processing and recycling
• waste transfer and storage with no processing

Table 1 shows the advised options for selecting the correct operation size for the activity carried out. Figures are stated in tonnes per annum.

Table 1: Advised options for selecting the correct operation size for the activity carried out (tonnes per annum)

	Small	Medium	Large
End-of-life vehicle (ELV)	<2,500	<10,000	>10,000
Scrap metal	<5,000	<20,000	>20,000
Glass recycling	<5,000	<50,000	>50,000
Waste recycling, transfer or treatment	<20,000	<75,000	>75,000
Wood processing or recycling	<20,000	<75,000	>75,000
Soil or aggregates processing	<10,000	<75,000	>75,000

5.2 Power generation or back up and peaking 

This activity includes, but is not limited to:

• back-up generation used for data centres, hospitals and other energy critical activities
• peaking plant used to supply energy during peak demand periods
• power generation plants

Advised options for selecting the correct size when using power generation option are as follows:

• small – less than 100 Megawatt (MW) thermal
• medium – between 100 to 200 MW thermal
• large – more than 200 MW thermal

Energy from waste (EfW) is considered as a separate activity to power generation.

5.3 Data centres

For data centres, the Environment Agency regulate the emissions of back up energy generation and their associated infrastructure only. Do not include emergency operation scenarios for backup energy generation when using the NAT.

If you are using the NAT for data centres, you should select the following options for step 1: 

1. Power generation back up or peaking.
2. Internal operations with external deliveries, goods handling and storage, no processing.
3. No.
4. Follow guidance on power generation.
5. Measure distance from nearest power generation unit to the nearest receptor.
6. As location of nearest receptor.
7. As nearest distance of receptor to major noise source.

If you are applying for a variation, when considering the annual throughput increase, calculate the increase in MW thermal power generation proposed at the site. 

5.4 Anaerobic digestion (AD) or wastewater treatment works (WwTW)

Sewage sludge AD is normally found on water treatment sites, co-located with other processes not regulated by the Environment Agency such as sewage treatment.

The most common noise emitting process relating to AD is usually associated with the combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

5.5 Permitted activities at WwTW

Permitted activities at WwTW or sewage treatment works include:

• sewage sludge AD – including CHP, gas flaring, relief valve activation, vehicle movements and fans for odour release and cooling
• sewage sludge treatment
• pre-treatment steps (thermal hydrolysis)
• discharge to head works
• sludge treatment (thickening, stabilisation with lime and dewatering including cake)

If your application relates to discharge to head works you do not need to submit an NIA. This is due to the dominance of noise emissions from WwTW, which are not regulated by the Environment Agency under an environmental permit.

If you are using the NAT for WwTW or sewage treatment works, you should select the following options for step 1:

1. External operations with processing and storage.
2. Anaerobic digestion or WwTW.
3. Answer dependent on site operational hours.
4. Complete dependent on size of operation.
5. Distance from dominant permitted noise source to closest residential receptor.
6. As found at the nearest residential receptor to the environmental permit application site.
7. As found at the nearest residential receptor to other nearest major noise source.

5.6 Deposit for recovery (DfR) or inert landfill

With waste recovery

Fixed processing plant that makes soil substitutes and aggregates often dominate the noise emissions for DfR or inert landfill activities.

When using the NAT, you should work out the distance to the nearest sensitive receptor from the location of the noise-generating processing activity. This differs from other activities, where using the location of the permitted site boundary is recommended.

Where the location of processing activities may change during the operational life of the permitted site, it is recommended that you:

• assess all locations using the NAT
• Use the worst-case location to work out if you need to submit an NIA and NMP

For definitions of operation size based on the material being handled at the site, see the section on ‘waste handling and operation size’.

Without waste recovery

For DfR and inert landfill with no on-site processing operations, you must use the closest distance from the noise generating remediation activity to the nearest noise sensitive receptor. This differs from other activities, where using the location of the permitted site noise boundary is recommended.

Where this distance is more than 50m, you will usually not need to submit an NIA and NMP as part of the application unless the Environment Agency asks you to. For this type of application, you may be asked to submit an NIA on a site-specific basis, for example for sites where there is high public interest.

6. Get advice on using the NAT for your application

You can use the enhanced (paid-for) pre-application advice service to discuss the output of the NAT. For example, you may wish to discuss a disagreement with the outcome of the tool or raise any site-specific circumstances that are not covered by the tool.

When you ask for advice through the enhanced pre-application service you must provide a copy of the completed NAT and, as a minimum, the following information:

• a description of the proposed activities
• the activities being carried out and if they occur indoors or outdoors
• whether operations will occur at night
• a map and Ordnance Survey National Grid references clearly detailing the site boundary

The Environment Agency will then tell you if:

• you need to provide an NIA and NMP
• your proposal is likely to be low risk

You can find further guidance on NIAs and NMPs in:

• Noise impact assessments involving calculations or modelling
• Noise and vibration management: environmental permits
• Method implementation document (MID) for BS 4142

7. Contact us

For enquiries related to the use of the NAT:

Email NAT@environment-agency.gov.uk

For general enquiries, contact:

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.