The MOD compensation policy for the effect of aircraft noise from military airfields/ranges derives from a 1972 white paper ‘Development and compensation: putting people first’ and broadly follows the civil airport noise compensation practices when it was known as the Noise Insulation Grant Scheme (NIGS) and covered mainly fast jet military airfields. This scheme was closed in 2005 following cuts to the defence budget.
In 2010 the policy was reintroduced as the Noise Amelioration Scheme (Military) it incorporates the provisions from the 2003 white paper ‘The future of air transport ’ and now covers all military airfields including helicopter stations, and weapons ranges.
The NAS(M) is a non-statutory direct assistance scheme for residents whose properties lie with certain eligibility areas of military airfields and broadly follows the schemes at the civil airports of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead. The eligibility areas are defined by noise contours. The NAS(M) is a small part of the MOD’s noise mitigation measures programme which aims to reduce the effect of noise disturbance from military activities on members of the public who live in the vicinity of the locations where the activity takes place. The NAS(M) has three eligibility criteria:
LAeq, 16hr 72dB: Owners whose properties lie within this contour may find this level of noise significantly disturbing and will receive an offer to purchase. If the owners do not wish to sell, they will be offered the standard acoustic glazing package.
LAeq,16h 66dB: Offer of a grant to install an acoustic insulation package comprising of acoustic double glazing system of at least 6.4L (12)10) for all bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens (where the kitchen forms a substantial part of the living space). Bathrooms are not considered to be living rooms, nor are conservatories. Installation of acoustic louvered ventilation systems (80dB) (Mechanical acoustically louvered ventilation systems will be needed in kitchens).
LAeq,16h 63dB: Applies to noise sensitive areas such as schools/colleges, hospitals, care homes where an offer of a grant for installation an appropriate acoustic insulation package will be offered. The grant will only apply to buildings built or converted for use before the publication of the white paper, Future of Air Transport in the UK 2003 as it is expected that any development given planning permission after that date would have been built with the appropriate noise insulation.
This information is designed so that residents who live near military airfields and local authority planning/environment officers can view electronic versions of the noise surveys conducted at military airfields.