Tesco Store - Loud Airconditioning Unit

CatDew

I have a Tesco store directly in front of my house.  My Living room, kitchen, bedroom and garden all face the back of the store where they have a large air-conditioning unit which is very noisy.  In summer (now) it stays on constantly and in winter it turns on sporadically. It sounds like an aircraft taking off when it gets going and then it remains so loud that you cant hear what is happening in the house from the garden.  Even with the windows closed, at night I have to wear ear plugs and it is driving me to despair.  I have made numerous complaints to the local Environmental noise nuisance department over the last 8 years, who have been utterly useless.  The one time they visited the air con was not working and all the fridges were broken, but they never followed up. Can anyone advise me as to what I can do or who I should contact before I have a mental breakdown please. 

Vectis

Was the store there when you bought the house, or was it built after you moved in?

eskbanker

Have you measured the noise levels with a sound meter?  If you video the display of one of these at different times of day and night it might help quantify the issue, and counter the fact that the environmental noise nuisance department visited at an inopportune time?

user1977

Do they have planning conditions about the maximum noise levels?

Aylesbury_Duck

I'd get in touch with your local councillor.  If they're unable to help, contact your local MP's office.

CatDew

Hello Vectis - The store was built after I bought my house.  I objected to the planning application on the basis that the air con would cause a nuisance (and it has) and Tesco also built "commercial units" above the shop which were quickly turned into residential and the (noisy) tenants' windows look directly into my bedroom, living room, kitchen and garden so I am overlooked 24/7! I cant do anything about them but the air con noise is just too much! 

Hello eskbanker - I measured the noise with an app and sent it to the council - they couldn't care less.
Hello User1977 - I don't believe so but I will check the planning application - thank you  

Aylesbury_Duck

CatDew said:

Hello Vectis - The store was built after I bought my house.  I objected to the planning application on the basis that the air con would cause a nuisance (and it has) and Tesco also built "commercial units" above the shop which were quickly turned into residential and the (noisy) tenants' windows look directly into my bedroom, living room, kitchen and garden so I am overlooked 24/7! I cant do anything about them but the air con noise is just too much! 

Hello eskbanker - I measured the noise with an app and sent it to the council - they couldn't care less.
Hello User1977 - I don't believe so but I will check the planning application - thank you  

You should focus your complaint on the noise levels, and that will require something more accurate than a phone app  to quantify.  I'd hope that once you're in touch with a councillor or MP, the council will send someone with properly calibrated equipment.   What's the solution likely to be here?  It would be incredibly expensive to relocate air-conditioning plant and there may be few places it could go in any case, so I suppose they'd have to install some sort of sound baffle/barrier to reduce the noise to acceptable levels if they're making too much noise now.

Being overlooked is unfortunate but there is no right to not be overlooked, unfortunately.  Blinds or net curtains are very effective.

sheramber

Do the tenants living above the shop find it noisy?

Do yyou have any neighbours who also find it too noisy?

Have the Environmental Health considered the noise ie within the  allowablce level?