OVERVIEW
Cavalry Barracks is a major redevelopment of a former Ministry of Defence site in Hounslow, West London. The proposals will deliver 1,525 high-quality homes alongside commercial space and over 10 acres of public open space. The historic site contains 14 listed buildings and 19 locally listed buildings with the entire site forming the Cavalry Barracks Conservation Area – making it one of the most complex and sensitive brownfield regeneration schemes in West London.
CREATE’S ROLE
We were appointed by Inland Homes to provide Acoustics and Air Quality services, working closely alongside planning consultants Planning Potential. Our involvement began with a pre-application feasibility assessment to establish whether the site was viable in terms of both noise and air quality – a critical first step given the site’s position beneath Heathrow Airport’s flight path.
Following the feasibility stage, we undertook detailed noise monitoring and five months of Diffusion Tube (NO2) monitoring alongside periods of real-time air quality monitoring to understand NO2 concentration levels. Our team maintained regular communication with London Borough of Hounslow planning offerings and the Greater London Authority throughout the period, helping to explain how acoustics and air quality might change with the proposed development. Both teams also provided specialist input into the Environmental Statement prior to submission.
Our roles, technical services and outputs included:
- Pre-application Feasibility Assessment
- Detailed Noise Monitoring
- 3D Acoustics Modelling
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – Acoustics Chapter
- Diffusion Tube (NO2) Monitoring
- Air Quality Assessment (AQA)
- ADMS-Roads Dispersion Modelling
- Air Quality Neutral Assessment (AQNA) in line with The London Plan guidance
- Dust Management Plan in line with MOL SPG and IAQM guidance
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – Air Quality Chapter
- Liaison with the London Borough of Hounslow and the Greater London Authority (GLA)
CHALLENGES
The position of the development directly beneath Heathrow Airport’s flight path was the primary acoustic challenge requiring detailed 3D modelling and careful trade-offs between sound attenuation and daylight and sunlight levels. This constraint made the acoustic design particularly complex, with mitigation solutions needed to be both technically effective and well-integrated into the architect’s design. Aspects such as Winter Gardens, external covered areas in amenity space, as well as more commonplace acoustic screening options were proposed to enhance building acoustics.
Alongside this, the AQNA demonstrated that the development would not meet air quality neutral thresholds under The London Plan, requiring an extensive mitigation package with monetary offset values for NOX and PM10 emissions to satisfy both the London Borough of Hounslow and the GLA.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND BENEFITS
Our pre-application work and technical services helped to de-risk the planning process by establishing viability at an early stage and building a constructive working relationship with the planning authority and the GLA. The acoustic and air quality mitigation packages directly shaped the design of the scheme, leading to a unanimous resolution to grant planning permission in late 2022.