Royal Mail raises noise concerns over new Belfast apartment scheme

Royal Mail has raised noise concerns which it says could impact residents of a newly-proposed major apartment scheme in Belfast city centre, Ulster Business can reveal.

lans are underway to build a large 19-storey ‘build-to-rent’ apartment scheme with almost 300 flats close to Royal Mail’s Tomb Street headquarters.

Now, Royal Mail has raised issues with the development over sound from its own major delivery office, which would sit adjacent to the planned development by ES Corporation Street Limited, a company linked to Co Tyrone construction firm McAleer & Rushe.

It says that a noise report carried out does not clearly capture “early morning activity” at the Royal Mail site.

It says planning regulations are “clear the applicant should provide noise mitigation and existing businesses should not be unduly affected by a new noise-sensitive use”.

“Noise from existing Royal Mail use is likely to affect residential amenity and these mitigation measures are essential,” documents say.

“No development should take place before a scheme detailing the insulation of the building against the transmission of noise and vibration from the building has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.”
Following the raising of the issue, Belfast City Council’s environmental health team has now said “the noise impacts on the proposed development have not been appropriately tested”.

It’s requesting additional baseline monitoring for the area, to include at least one evening and one full night. That’s to take into consideration the impact of Royal Mail’s operations and potentially other businesses.

“(We) would still have concerns that future occupants may be impacted by noise associated with this business,” a letter from the service says. “Limited daytime and night time monitoring was carried out overlooking Tomb Street.

“… the impact of Royal Mail existing use, importantly the noise impacts on the proposed development have not been appropriately tested.

“A detailed scheme of noise mitigation measures should be provided to secure appropriate mitigation.

“The construction management plan should be updated to confirm no impact on Royal Mail. While Royal Mail acknowledge the need for residential development in Belfast, the proposed development will introduce a new residential use immediately adjacent to an established noise-generating use and appropriate mitigation should be secured by condition.”