Residents near Thomas's School in Kensington and Chelsea are one step closer to having their concerns addressed regarding noise levels from the school's playground. The Planning Applications Committee has deferred a decision on the noise management plan, requiring the inclusion of noise monitoring for the first year of the school's operation. The committee has delegated authority to officers to approve an amended plan, following consultation with the applicant and residents.
The move comes after residents voiced concerns that the current plan, which relies solely on monitoring complaints, is inadequate. Michael, a local resident, argued that the submitted plan only proposes to monitor complaints, not noise levels themselves. Another resident, Richard, expressed fears that the playground noise would be comparable to a live music venue or nightclub.
Queensgate Ward Councillor Mack Over supported the residents' call, emphasising the need for sound monitoring to be included in the management plan. He stated that sound monitoring had already been agreed for the school's plant, machinery and emissions, and that it seemed logical that the largest likely course of noise, which is from a school playground, should also be monitored.
An acoustic expert, Peter Rogers, recommended setting an objective target of plus three decibels over existing ambient conditions, which could be monitored in real-time. He argued that the area is very quiet and tranquil, and the playground is a new noise source that needs protection.
Ben Thomas, principal of Thomas' London Day Schools, assured the committee of the school's commitment to being a considerate neighbour. He outlined existing measures, such as limiting playground use and installing an acoustic fence. Specifically, the playground is available for play for 40 minutes in the morning, from 10.10 to 10.50, and for 90 minutes during lunchtime, from 12.20 to 1.50, on weekdays only, at term time only. Mr Thomas also mentioned an offer to install noise monitoring, but preferred to keep it separate from the noise management plan due to differences between monitoring the sound of children and monitoring the sound of plants. David True, acoustic expert, said that measuring children playing was not standard practice, and that contextual information from complaints could be useful.
Some councillors raised questions about the possibility of including noise monitoring in the plan. Officers advised that while they were satisfied with the plan as it stood, a deferral could allow for the inclusion of explicit monitoring if the committee felt it necessary.
Ultimately, the committee voted to defer the decision, delegating authority to officers to approve an amended plan that includes noise monitoring for the first year, following consultation with the applicant and residents. Cllr James Husband, chairman of the committee, said that the decision was deferred so that the noise management plan can be amended in the ways that had been discussed, so that there is monitoring for the first year of operation. Cllr Husband stated that this would mean that it could happen very quickly.
The committee also addressed other planning applications, including approving retrofit improvements to the Lancaster West estate and railings around St Mary Abbots Church. These decisions will be covered in separate reports.
