I've name changed as this could be identifiable.
Backing onto our garden is another house which was partly turned into a dentist long before we moved here. 18 months ago, they built an extension to the dentist and stopped living in the house.
After the extension was completed and once the weather changed and we were using our garden, we realised that we could hear near constant noise from the air compressor which is stored in the garden just behind our garden fence. The noise could be heard during the day and into the early evening and sometimes on the weekend, including bank holiday Monday. There are two noises. A low hum and a higher pitched drilling sound. It sounds like a pneumatic drill is being used a street away.
We emailed and appealed to the dentist owner. We were fobbed off with it being teething problems and the compressor accidentally being left on over weekends/evenings. Nothing changed. We reported to the council and started that process but by the time we had reached the stage where they would come out and listen to the noise, it was late September and I was distracted by kids back at school and wasn't in the garden very often. We let the case be closed with the agreement we could reopen it.
Whilst dealing with the council, the dentist said he was going to get it noise insulated and that he had to wait until January to use his builders. We've recently become aware of the noise again, sometimes late in the evening, and we will reopen the case but my dh wrote to the dentist and said he wanted to come over and talk about it. He did - and the owner was arrogant, rude and dismissive, whilst also admitting the compressor had got louder since the extension. There are no builders that are going to insulate the compressor.
We will reopen the case with the council. Can anyone with legal knowledge help me?
When they applied for planning permission to extend the business, we were sent the standard letter to see if we had objections. It did not occur to us that they would be moving the compressor (we believe it has been moved) or that the compressor would be in use to a level that we would notice. Should that have been part of the planning process?
Are there any laws and regulations surrounding the use of air compressors and their use close to residential properties?
How can I find if anyone else has fought and won concerning a dental practice and compressor noise?
They were a private dentist but now have NHS patients. Is there any legislation about NHS contracts that comes into play that we could use against this dental practice?
I know that what legally constitutes a nuisance noise is measured at quite a high reading of db. However, I read something in a magazine about the type of noise being important too and it mentioned low level humming as being particularly irritating. Is there somewhere I can find precedent set for taking the type of noise into account?
Thank you for any help. This increase in noise has ruined the enjoyment of our garden - and the back of our house when doors are open. All he has to do is move the compressor or get proper noise insulation but he's not willing to be compliant.