We have spoken to the national planning casework unit and have been advised Newcastle City Council has referred the planning application to the Civil Aviation Authority for consultation. It is believed a decision on whether to call in the application will be made later this week. World Health Organisation Community Noise Guidelines state that noise in external amenity areas ideally should be no more than 50dB LAeq, but that the threshold for significant community annoyance is 55dB LAeq. Noise levels on the application site will exceed this limit and some houses will not be allowed gardens. Nearly all the development west of Hazlerigg – the Banks site opposite Havannah Nature Reserve – will be exposed to noise levels of 54dB LAeq and a significant portion, including areas where housing is proposed, will be within the 57dB LAeq. National Planning Policy states that planning decisions should avoid noise from giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life as a result of new development.