ASA Muscles into the Gym Everyone seems to be going back to the gym in the New Year – we’re doing it on company time! Three new gym assessment projects this year so far and another in the pipeline relate to a range of issues from vibration due to dropped free weights to Zumba music breakout. Gym acoustics seems to be flavour of the month. ASA Joins the Renaissance movement Berkeley Homes Urban Renaissance has appointed ASA as acoustic consultants on their exiting new high end residential project on John Islip Street, Westminster http://www.abell-cleland.com adding to ASA’s formidable portfolio of luxury residential schemes, including our work for Candy and Candy at One Hyde Park, among others. Telford Office Flourishing James Healey’s business development in the Shropshire region continues apace, with the local presence key in securing appointments on regional projects including the County Show Ground and a new Park and Ride scheme. Racing Ahead... Silverstone masterplan planning consent is granted by the Local Authority following extensive works by ASA. Clucking Good Job A poultry farm in Shropshire receives confirmation of planning approval following a noise impact assessment provided by ASA. MTC. Coventry ASA complete commissioning tests for the cutting edge Machine Technology Centre (http://www.the-mtc.org/) ASA chill out at awards Linde Frostcruise Cryogenic in-transit refrigeration system won the Technology Award at the Noise Abatement Society John Connell Awards 2011. ASA’s speedy turnaround of site testing at a secret airfield location helped our client (Linde) secure this exciting award ASA response to DNPPF Planning must consider noise sensitive development as well as noise generators A tale of two Spaldingtons ASA’s noise impact assessment of the Spaldington Airfield Windfarm passed muster at public inquiry, whereas the nearby Spaldington Common Windfarm (assessed by others!) was less successful… Nuisance Renewables Baroness Hanham has confirmed that, from 1st December 2011, micro-renewables (small wind turbines and air source heat pumps) will have permitted development rights, enabling installation without planning consent subject to a neighbour noise limit of 42 dB LAeq,5mins. At this level it is likely that statutory noise nuisance will be caused in quieter locations. Customers should be aware that this consent does not provide protection from nuisance action. Refer to an expert for more detailed advice!ASA refuse to be beaten ASA played a major part in securing the recent planning consent for SITA Cornwall’s new Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) facility at their Connon Bridge Landfill Site BREEAM 2011 – Early Birds get the credits The new document will come into force next month (July 2011), and will require a ‘suitably qualified acoustician’ to be appointed at a very early (pre-bid/briefing) stage. ASA is brimming will suitably qualified acousticians, and we have devised a bespoke service to enable this requirement to be met at minimal cost at the very outset of the project. “The best soundproofing in the world” Nick Candy discusses One Hyde Park in an interview with Jasper Gerard of the Telegraph 7th Feb. Retirement present for Gary Neville Bolton Council’s planning committee has approved plans for the recently retired Manchester United captain’s eco-house. The ground breaking proposals for a partially underground dwelling were deemed to be “truly outstanding and groundbreaking” and reflect the “highest standards in contemporary architecture” – allowing it to be built in an otherwise development free green belt. ASA assisted with the noise impact assessment of a wind turbine which will be part of the sustainable energy strategy for the zero carbon building. Waste Recycling Group (WRG) ASA have been appointed by WRG Wind Energy through Pelorus Consultancy to undertake assessment of new proposed wind turbine installations at 9 sites covering the whole of England. Desktop studies to predict noise exposure will be made prior to survey works being undertaken at sites where it is required by the ETSU-R-97 assessment methodology. ASA will look to use their considerable experience in this discipline to ensure a positive result for all parties. Sorry to have missed the One Hyde Park Official Launch Nick and Christian Candy hosted the launch of the world’s most expensive residential apartments on 19th Jan. ASA has provided acoustic consultancy services to the client and contractor teams since the planning stages back in 2005, and would like to congratulate everyone involved in successfully completing a very challenging project. We’re still trying to work out which junk folder the celebrity launch party invitations went in though... Salisbury Law Court was awarded first prize under the BREEAM Courts scheme at the BREEAM Awards 2010 held at Ecobuild in London. This is one of the new combined court centres commissioned by Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS). ASA Appoints Networking Czars Congratulations to Dan Saunders and Neil McLeod who have been appointed Planning and Architectural Czars respectively. Dan and Neil will be keeping their fingers on the pulses, and getting inside the heads of their allocated professional contact to help us better understand and interact with other members of our clients’ teams. European Acoustic Consultants Network As part of the ANC’s continuing mission to engage more closely with colleagues internationally, a discussion forum has been set up to facilitate discussion with colleagues around Europe on topics of common interest, such as implementation of EU directives and international consultancy contracts. For more information contact Ed Clarke. Acoustics in Schools: April 2010 Update A joint letter from DCSF and CLG issued on 07/04/2010 confirms that the Government has taken the necessary steps to ensure BSF funding is linked to a contractual commitment to acoustic test certification. The promised ‘Design Practise Note for Clients’ is also expected later in 2010. Week 10 Welcome Becky Rebecca Stafford has joined the ASA family, supporting our consulting team and keeping us all in order admin-wise. Hers is likely to be the first voice you hear if you call the Winchester Office, so please be nice to her. Tight deadlines are the NORM Week 8 dB or not dB ? THAT is the question ! Durkan Ltd’s refurbishment of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Education Centre is proceeding apace, with ASA’s advice to the design team shaping the way future generations will be taught in the ways of the Bard. Week 6 New Deputy in Town: Congratulations to Neil McLeod on his appointment as a Robust Details Deputy Inspector. Neil joins ASA’s existing team of three inspectors and two deputies, completing our RD posse. Tilting at Windmills: Following the Crown Estate’s announcement last month releasing further sites for offshore wind farms, with potential capacity for a potential 6,400 wind turbines, ASA is gearing up for further environmental impact assessment work. ASA has provided noise impact assessments, both airborne and underwater noise, for a number of the current UK sites, and is in discussions with developers over the next phases. October 2009 Government has Balls on acoustics The link between good acoustics and classroom communication is well established, but recent schools projects have been criticised for not taking this requirement seriously (especially in facilities designed specifically for the hearing impaired). On 16/10/09 , after intense lobbying at the Labour Party conference by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) , Ed Balls’ DCSF announced a new package of measures to ensure that the designers and constructors of school buildings take acoustics seriously. New BSF schools will be tested, and funding for new school programmes is to be withheld, pending local authorities proving that the schools they have recently built comply with the Building Regulations requirements as laid out in BB93. August 2009 Ince Marsh Success Over a year since the conclusion of the public inquiry, consent has been granted for the construction of a Resource Recovery Park (RRP) and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Power Plant which will be able to take advantage of a ‘trimodal transportation hub’ to accommodate a variety of waste management business. ASA produced a great deal of noise evidence at the inquiry, presented in a readily intelligible form using noise mapping – see an example here For more information on the scheme go to http://www.incerrp.co.uk/recoverypark.html May 2009 Promotion for James Congratulations to James Healey. He has been promoted to the role of SENIOR CONSULTANT after developing his experience and skills over the last few years. New regional offices open ASA has spread its wings and opened two local offices to provide a better service to clients across the country. We now have a west-country office based in Exeter and a midlands office based in Telford enabling us to provide our quality service at competitive prices over a much larger area. April 2009 Neil completes Devizes to Westminster Congratulations to ASA’s Neil McLeod for completing the gruelling 125 mile Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race. After a total of 18hrs 11mins of racing over four days he achieved 11th place in the senior k1 category. For more information go to http://www.dwrace.org.uk/.
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