Consultation - Draft Planning Guidance - Noise

The planning system has a key role in determining the location of development, regulating the use of land through decisions taken on planning applications where noise can be a legitimate material consideration. It has a responsibility to protect people from development which may give rise to noise pollution, and by guiding development to the right locations and through promoting good design, the planning process can help to avoid or, at least, mitigate problems associated with excessive or inappropriate noise levels arising from development.

Statutory planning guidance (SG) was previously adopted in 2017 to support the current LDP, specifically, Policy EMG 5, which seeks to protect residents and businesses from noise pollution and outlines a clear set of directions for managing noise. Noise control is also addressed in NPF4 under Policy 23: Health and Safety.

This guidance has served the Council well over the intervening period, but it now requires refreshing and the preparation of a new local development plan (LDP2) presents a timely opportunity to do so.

The draft guidance on Noise maintains the council's commitment to prevent and control the adverse effects of noise, particularly where new noise sensitive developments are planned near to existing noise sources and where potentially noisy developments are introduced into existing noise sensitive areas.

When approved, the guidance will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

You are invited to comment on this Draft Planning Guidance which can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

New Planning Guidance - Noise (PDF, 254 KB)(opens new window)  (NB: Changes between the current guidance and the draft guidance have been highlighted in blue to help better facilitate comparison).

Comments on the guidance should be submitted by 12 Noon on Friday 23 October 2026. Please email responses to DPgeneral@westlothian.gov.uk

Note: Any comments you submit will be made public. If you want to remain anonymous, please ensure that you make this clear in your submission.

Should you have any questions regarding the draft guidance please contact the Development Planning and Environment team, either by email at DPgeneral@westlothian.gov.uk or by post at West Lothian Council, Development Planning & Environment, Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston EH54 6FF.

For further information on how the information you provide will be used please read our Privacy Notice 

_{This page was last updated on 11 September 2026}