"the Assembly" ("y Cynulliad") means the National Assembly for Wales;

"agglomeration" ("crynodref") means an area identified as an agglomeration pursuant to regulation 3;

"airport operator" ("gweithredydd maes awyr") means the person for the time being having, in relation to a particular airport, the management of that airport;

"calendar year" ("blwyddyn galendr") means a period of a year beginning on 1 January;

(a) the noise indicators Lden and Lnight in accordance with Annex I of the Directive; and

(b) the supplementary noise indicators in all cases listed as examples in paragraph 3 of Annex I of the Directive,

when making or revising strategic noise maps under this Part.

    (3) The values of Lden, Lnight and the supplementary noise indicators must be determined by means of the assessment methods set out in Schedule 2.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5) existing noise indicators and related data may be converted into Lden and Lnight.

    (5) The data referred to in paragraph (4) must not be more than three years old.

    (6) "Supplementary noise indicator" means a noise indicator as defined in Schedule 3.

(a) first round agglomerations;

(b) first round major roads;

(c) first round major railways; and

(d) major airports.

    (2) No later than 30 June 2012, and thereafter every five years, the competent authority must make and, in accordance with regulation 23, adopt strategic noise maps showing the situation in the preceding calendar year for all—

(a) agglomerations;

(b) major roads;

(c) major railways; and

(d) major airports.

    (3) From time to time, and whenever a major development occurs affecting the existing noise situation, the competent authority must—

(a) review; and

(b) if necessary revise,

any strategic noise map made pursuant to paragraphs (1) or (2) and adopted pursuant to regulation 23.

"input data" ("data mewnbwn") means all the data and related information used to produce the numerical data in electronic form required by paragraph 3(2)(b) or 4(2)(b) (as appropriate) of Schedule 1;

(a) 30 September 2007; and

(b) 30 September 2012,

the Assembly must, in the form of regulations, identify quiet areas in agglomerations.

    (2) Paragraph (3) applies if the Assembly considers that the most recent regulations produced pursuant to this regulation are no longer appropriate.

    (3) No later than 30 September in any relevant year the Assembly must, if it considers it necessary, in the form of regulations identify quiet areas in agglomerations.

    (4) In paragraph (3) "relevant year" ("blwyddyn berthnasol") means 2017 and every fifth year thereafter.

(a) meet the objectives of Article 1(c) of the Directive;

(b) be designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary;

(c) aim to protect quiet areas in agglomerations against an increase in noise;

(d) address priorities which must be identified by having regard to guidance published pursuant to regulation 14;

(e) apply in particular to the most important areas as established by strategic noise maps adopted pursuant to regulation 23; and

(f) meet the requirements in Schedule 4.

    (2) Paragraph (3) applies to—

(a) any action plan; and

(b) any revision of an action plan,

drawn up under this Part for an agglomeration.

    (3) An action plan and any revision of an action plan must be based upon and apply in particular to the most important areas as established by—

(a) all strategic noise maps that—


(i) are made or revised pursuant to regulation 7, 11 or 12 and adopted pursuant to regulation 23, and

(ii) concern any part of the area addressed by the action plan; and



(b) a consolidated noise map.

    (4) In this regulation "consolidated noise map" ("map sŵ n cyfunol") means a single strategic noise map consolidated from all strategic noise maps that—

(a) are made or revised pursuant to regulation 7, 11 or 12 and adopted pursuant to regulation 23; and

(b) concern any part of the area addressed by the action plan.

(a) places near first round major roads;

(b) places near first round major railways; and

(c) first round agglomerations.

    (2) No later than 18 July 2013 the competent authority must draw up action plans for—

(a) places near major roads;

(b) places near major railways; and

(c) agglomerations.

    (3) Paragraph (4) applies—

(a) whenever a major development occurs affecting the existing noise situation; and

(b) at least every five years after the date on which an action plan is adopted pursuant to regulation 24.

    (4) The competent authority must—

(a) review; and

(b) if necessary revise,

the action plan.

(a) draw up an action plan for places near the major airport; and

(b) submit that action plan to the Assembly.

    (2) Paragraph (3) only applies if the competent authority was not required to draw up an action plan for the major airport pursuant to paragraph (19 because it was not the competent authority on or before 30 April 2008.

    (3) No later than 30 April 2013 the competent authority must—

(a) draw up an action plan for places near the major airport; and

(b) submit that action plan to the Assembly.

    (4) Paragraph (5) applies—

(a) whenever a major development occurs affecting the existing noise situation; and

(b) at least every five years after the date on which an action plan is adopted pursuant to regulation 24.

    (5) The competent authority must—

(a) review; and

(b) if necessary revise,

the action plan.

    (6) An action plan revised pursuant to paragraph (5)(b) must be submitted to the Assembly within three working days of its revision.

(a) the public is consulted about proposals for action plans;

(b) the public is given early and effective opportunities to participate in the preparation and review of the action plans;

(c) the results of that public participation are taken into account;

(d) the public is informed of the decisions taken; and

(e) reasonable time frames are provided allowing sufficient time for each stage of public participation.

(a) has been adopted pursuant to regulation 24; and

(b) identifies a public authority as responsible for a particular action,

that public authority must treat the action plan as its policy insofar as it relates to that action.

    (2) A public authority may depart from any policy mentioned in paragraph (1) if—

(a) it provides—


(i) the Assembly, and

(ii) the competent authority responsible for the preparation of the action plan or the revision (if not the Assembly),

(b) it publishes those reasons.

    (3) In this regulation "public authority" ("awdurdod cyhoeddus") includes any person who exercises functions of a public nature, but does not include—

(a) either House of Parliament or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in Parliament;

(b) courts or tribunals; or

(c) the Assembly.

(a) when requested to do so by an external competent authority; and

(b) if necessary to meet that external competent authority's obligations arising under the Directive,

must cooperate with that external competent authority.

    (3) In this Part "external competent authority" ("awdurdod cymwys allanol") means a competent authority in Northern Ireland, Scotland or England designated for the purposes of Article 4 of the Directive.

(a) submitted to it pursuant to regulation 11 or 12;

(b) submitted to it pursuant to paragraph (4); or

(c) made or revised by it,

meets the requirements of regulation 4, it must adopt the map.

    (2) If the Assembly considers that a strategic noise map submitted to it pursuant to regulation 11 or 12 or paragraph (4) does not meet the requirements of regulation 4 it may—

(a) amend and adopt the map; or

(b) reject the map.

    (3) If a strategic noise map is rejected pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) the Assembly must notify the competent authority that submitted it of—

(a) the reasons why the map was not adopted; and

(b) the date by which the map must be revised and resubmitted.

    (4) The recipient of a notification under paragraph (3) must submit the revised strategic noise map to the Assembly by the date specified in the notification.

    (5) Paragraphs (1) to (4) apply to a revised strategic noise map as they apply to a strategic noise map submitted pursuant to regulation 11 or 12.

    (6) If the Assembly amends—

(a) a strategic noise map; or

(b) a revised strategic noise map,

(a) must be made in writing;

(b) may specify the format in which information must be provided; and

(c) may specify the period of time within which a response must be received.

    (3) If an authority receives a request pursuant to paragraph (1) it must respond—

(a) within the time period specified pursuant to paragraph (2)(c); or

(b) if no such period is specified, within fourteen days of receipt of the request.

    (4) Paragraph (5) applies where—

(a) the Assembly has consulted the competent authority; and

(b) it considers that by reason of any act or omission, or any likely act or omission, by the competent authority—


(i) a requirement of these Regulations; or

(ii) a requirement imposed on the United Kingdom by the Directive,



is unlikely to be met.

(a) strategic noise map that is made available to the public before it is adopted pursuant to regulation 23; or

(b) action plan that is made available to the public before it is adopted pursuant to regulation 24,

must include prominently displayed wording identifying it as a draft subject to adoption by the Assembly.

    (2) Any—

(a) strategic noise map adopted pursuant to regulation 23; or

(b) action plan adopted pursuant to regulation 24,

must be published by the competent authority in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (3).

    (3) A strategic noise map or an action plan published pursuant to paragraph (2) must be—

(a) accompanied by a summary setting out the most important points;

(b) displayed on the Assembly's website;

(c) made available for inspection during normal office hours at the Assembly's principal office; and

(d) supplied upon request for a reasonable charge.

"editable" ("y gellir eu golygu") means in a format that allows (without the need for manipulation) the electronic production of—

(a) numerical data in tables, and

(b) graphical plots,

to display the information described in paragraphs 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 of Annex VI of the Directive;

"grid" ("grid") means a grid of vector points which are—

(a) at 10 metre by 10 metre intervals,

(b) spatially referenced to the British National Grid reference system used by the Ordnance Survey as a pair of integers to show Eastings then Northings in metres from the origin, and

(c) aligned with the 10 metre vertices of the British National Grid reference system used by the Ordnance Survey so that references finish with the number zero.

General requirements for strategic noise maps
     2. —(1) Strategic noise maps and their revisions must—

(a) satisfy the minimum requirements laid down in Annex IV of the Directive; and

(b) be clear and comprehensible.

    (2) In applying paragraph (1)(a) any reference in Annex IV of the Directive to—

(a) Article 8 of the Directive is to be taken to be a reference to regulations 15, 17 and 19 of these Regulations;

(b) Article 9 of the Directive is to be taken to be a reference to regulation 29 of these Regulations.

Requirements for strategic noise maps for agglomerations
     3. —(1) This paragraph applies only to—

(a) a strategic noise map made under regulation 7(1)(a), 7(2)(a), 12(1) or 12(2); or

(b) a revision of such a strategic noise map.

    (2) Strategic noise maps must—

(a) include the information (in electronic format) described in paragraphs 1.1 to 1.4 inclusive of Annex VI of the Directive; and

(b) include editable numerical data in electronic form containing the values of Lden, Lnight and the supplementary noise indicators on a grid.

Requirements for strategic noise maps for major roads, major railways and major airports
     4. —(1) This paragraph applies only to—

(a) any strategic noise map made under—


(i) regulation 7(1)(b) to (d),

(ii) regulation 7(2)(b) to (d),

(iii) regulation 11(2); or



(b) any revision of such a map.

    (2) Strategic noise maps must—

(a) include the information (in electronic format) described in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.4 inclusive of Annex VI of the Directive; and

(b) include editable numerical data in electronic form containing the values of Lden, Lnight and the supplementary noise indicators on a grid.

"assessment position" ("safle asesu") means the assessment height in paragraph 7 of Annex IV of the Directive;

"LA10,18h" is the arithmetic mean noise level in dB(A) exceeded for 10% of each hour over the period 06:00 – 24:00 hours;

"LAeq,16h" is the equivalent continuous sound level in dB(A) that, over the period 07:00 – 23:00 hours, contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound that occurred in that period;

"LAeq,18h" is the equivalent continuous sound level in dB(A) that, over the period 06:00 – 24:00 hours, contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound that occurred in that period;

"LAeq,6h" is the equivalent continuous sound level in dB(A) that, over the period 24:00 – 06:00 hours, contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound that occurred in that period.

Road Traffic Noise
     2. The supplementary noise indicators in relation to road traffic noise are—

(a) LA10,18h;

(b) LAeq,16h;

(c) Lday; and

(d) Levening.

Railway Noise
     3. The supplementary noise indicators in relation to railway noise are—

(a) LAeq,16h;

(b) LAeq,18h;

(c) LAeq,6h;

(d) Lday; and

(e) Levening.

Aircraft Noise
     4. The supplementary noise indicators in relation to aircraft noise are—

(a) LAeq,16h;

(b) Lday; and

(c) Levening.

Industrial Noise and Port Noise
     5. The supplementary noise indicators in relation to industrial noise and port noise are—

(a) LAeq,16h;

(b) Lday; and

(c) Levening.

(a) meet the minimum requirements of Annex V of the Directive; and

(b) contain a summary covering all the important aspects referred to in Annex V of the Directive, not exceeding ten pages in length.

    (2) In applying paragraph (1) any reference in Annex V of the Directive to—

(a) Article 5 of the Directive is to be taken to be a reference to regulation 4 of these Regulations;

(b) Article 8(7) of the Directive is to be taken to be a reference to regulation 20 of these Regulations.