News >MVA airport noise study first of its kind in 20 years

News > Press Releases >MVA Consultancy airport noise study first of its kind in 20 years

MVA Consultancy airport noise study first of its kind in 20 years

MVA Consultancy has successfully led the first study of its kind in two decades in an attempt to establish the relationship between aircraft noise and the annoyance it causes to residents.
The leading multi-disciplinary consultancy led the five-year study for the UK Department for Transport and Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which provided insight into key policy areas.

The research examined the key policy issues of: whether the noise metric, Leq, is an appropriate proxy for community annoyance (as is currently assumed to be the case by government); the existence, or otherwise, of a noise threshold at which communities become ‘significantly’ annoyed; people's sensitivity to aircraft noise by time of day; and willingness to pay to avoid aircraft noise.

The study deployed extensively trialled annoyance and stated preference questioning techniques to put willingness-to-pay monetary valuations on reducing aircraft noise, expressed in terms of frequency and sound level of aircraft, and time of occurrence.

MVA carried out in-depth interviews with around 3,000 residents at different proximities to 15 airports across the UK.

Paul Le Masurier, project director at MVA Consultancy, said: “These findings have, undoubtedly been of major interest to the air industry, not just in the UK but throughout Europe.

“The sensitivity of the research and its implications for future aviation policy planning are considerable, and the study therefore involved regular consultation with leading industry figures and stakeholders from the UK and internationally.”

Information for Editors:

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, MVA Consultancy provides advice on transport and other policy areas, to central, regional and local government, agencies, developers, operators and financiers.

A diverse group of results-oriented people, we are part of a 450-strong team worldwide. Through client business planning, customer research and strategy development we create solutions that work for real people in the real world.

Issued by Beattie Communications (www.beattiegroup.com) on behalf of MVA Consultancy

For further information please contact: Neil McDonald on 01698 787855 /
07725 466737 or email neil.mcdonald@beattiegroup.com

Kimberley Hamilton
01698 787875/07825 069 411 or email kimberley.hamilton@beattiegroup.com

10 April 2008