Albert Wharf

Project Overview

The project proposals included around 230 homes and office and commercial spaces above a working concrete batching plant which includes both road and barge deliveries. Noise impact was one of the key risks to the development. The involvement of Sweco on the design was to advise on the potential impact of environmental noise on the proposed residential units, including traffic noise but particularly from the industrial operations of the concrete plant.

The Challenge

Two of the key objectives of the acoustic design were to respond to the constraints and opportunities presented by the site’s location and to enhance local environmental quality. Achieving good indoor noise conditions within the residential units while retaining the operations of a working batching plant in the same building massing was a major challenge and a pioneering case in the world.

The combination of comprehensive internal and external noise modelling was a key element of the project. Noise levels from a comparable batching plant where measured, analysed, and used to determine the impact on the proposed residential development.

Our Approach

• Innovative mitigation measures were proposed as a result of the acoustic analysis and design. They included an acoustically treated concrete box to isolate the batching plant from the residential units above and a wide range of façade mitigation to control the break-in of environmental noise.
• Entry for Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) Awards.