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<p>The Appraisal of Sustainability that accompanies the Airports National Policy Statement
(NPS) provides a strategic level assessment of the potential social, economic, and
environmental impacts of expansion, including on noise. The Appraisal of Sustainability
makes it clear that for the purposes of this strategic level assessment, it would
not be suitable to produce noise contours and therefore estimate numbers of people
affected below 54dB LAeq, 16 hour for the daytime or 48 dB LAeq, 8 hours for the night
time. This is because variability in aircraft position in the air at these greater
distances from the airport, and airport noise being closer to background noise levels,
result in a lower level of certainty.</p><p> </p><p>The Airports NPS sets out specific
mitigations for aircraft noise that the Government expects to see delivered. These
include the applicant putting forward plans for a noise envelope which is tailored
to local priorities and includes noise performance targets. The applicant will also
need to develop plans for a runway alternation scheme that provides communities affected
with predictable periods of respite. The Government also expects a ban on scheduled
night flights for a period of six and a half hours.</p><p> </p><p>These supporting
measures will be finalised through the planning process and subject to public consultation.
These will then be considered by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State
in determining an application for development consent.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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