Hush MD Rob Crampton Talks ‘Agent of Change’ and How it Will Affect You
Posts by Robert Crampton on in Building Regulations
Agent of Change has been trending and gaining traction for some time, and now the landmark bill is currently being proposed in Parliament. Having been introduced into 2018s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Guidance after a favourable report by the House of Lords, many are speculating that the bill is here to stay.
Agent of Change puts soundproofing responsibility onto property developers who are building near live music venues. This is to curb unnecessary closures of businesses due to new noise complaints from new domestic builds in the area.
The bill has, of course, received praise from the venues themselves, as well as a strong political backing. It has also garnered praise from the construction industry. Trusted industry publications (Citymetric, Mondaq) have pointed out that when these areas lose their venues due to new environmental health concerns, it in turn lowers the value of all properties in the area. There are, however, still concerns about what Agent of Change will actually look like in action.
As Soundproofing Industry leaders, Rob Crampton, Managing Director of Hush Acoustics, shares his thoughts on how Agent of Change might develop, and how it will affect you.
Rob, what is your take on the issues the Agent of Change bill seeks to fix?
“We agree that it is imperative to find a line between building houses that the UK needs and keeping live music venues open.”
“There are and always have been ways and means in the majority of situations where we can offer solutions to developers and music venues to ensure that both can co-exist.”
What issues may people face if this Bill becomes Law?
“For Hush, this is the most crucial aspect of the debate. The honest fact is: each property and area must evaluate, or re-evaluate, on a job by job basis. Every music venue, every development and their relationships will be different.”
“The sound generated from open air venues will affect high-rises differently to maisonettes or town houses. There are so many factors that will change the characteristics of what an effective soundproofing system is to them. Distance from the venue; what the venue is; what times the venue operates; the type of music; the venue’s capacity – these are just some of the factors to be considered.”
“With so many variables, each development will need to be taken as it comes to prevent installation of ineffective, unnecessary systems.”
How will landlords, construction companies and property developers abide by these changes?
“There is already guidance in the UK’s Building Regulations Documents for acceptable noise levels inside residential units.”
“Every residential unit needs to follow these standards. These figures are created to ensure noise break-in from surrounding amenities doesn’t affect the occupants’ everyday lives. The guidelines must be adhered to carefully. No matter how they change, this will be the case.”
“When you boil it down, there’s only one thing that is different. That is the numbers by which the soundproofing benchmark is set. As long as the regulations are read and understood, the rest is just tender and costing.”
“Soundproofing companies like Hush will do the rest.”
Is this all going to be too much and too complicated for a developer and a new build?
“Not at all. Actually, I think the biggest plus point to come out of Agent of Change is the fact the developers and music venues will need to work together now, making sure the development goes ahead and the music venue stays open.”
“If all involved understand what the goal is and how to achieve it then the outcome will suit all parties.”
Hush Acoustics has been leading in soundproofing system design and manufacture for over 35 years, and are one of the longest established acoustic product specialists in the UK.
If you are an architect or currently engaged in building a residential site that will be affected by noise from local bars, you need to ensure that you are budgeting for soundproofing measures. Hush Acoustics are opening our doors to any business that needs guidance in selecting the right tools for the job while keeping company cheque-books in balance. Call Hush Acoustics now on: 0151 933 2026, or get in touch via our contact page.
