Construction noise & vibration · Across the South, London & beyond
Noise and vibration, predicted and managed.
I'm Richard Sullivan, an acoustic consultant specialising in noise and vibration modelling and prediction. In over 20 years I've worked on projects of every size, from major infrastructure like Tideway, Silvertown Tunnel and Crossrail to single-site developments. I help developers, contractors and consultancies with planning noise and vibration impact assessments, construction consents, monitoring and compliance, working as part of their project team.
- 20+
- years in acoustic consultancy
- 21
- Crossrail contracts supported
- 12+
- Network Rail & London Underground schemes
- UK + intl
- London, Toronto, Saudi Arabia
Services
What I do
Practical support from planning through to construction: from the first predictions to the last monitor coming off site.
When a project needs more resource, I bring in a network of trusted associate consultants. For sites outside the South, local associates keep site work economical.
-
Noise and vibration prediction modelling
My core specialism. Construction predictions to BS 5228, airborne and groundborne, and operational noise from roads, rail, industry and plant for planning. From quick calculations to full 3D models in SoundPLAN, CadnaA and NoiseMap, with clear results and contour plots.
-
Planning noise and vibration impact assessments
Assessments to support planning applications, for residential, commercial and industrial schemes, from single developments to EIA and ESIA chapters. Baseline surveys, assessment to the relevant standards such as BS 4142, BS 8233, ProPG and ISO 9613, and clear advice on mitigation and planning conditions.
-
Section 61 and consents
Prior consent applications under the Control of Pollution Act, dispensations and variations, and the conversations with local authority officers that get them approved.
-
Monitoring: plan, install, manage
Monitoring strategies, baseline surveys and long-term unattended systems. Trigger Action Plans, exceedance investigation and clear monthly reporting.
-
Mitigation and BPM advice
Best practicable means advice that works on a live site: method and plant choices, screening, scheduling and the evidence to back it up.
-
Air quality monitoring
Baseline and construction dust and particulate monitoring, managed alongside noise and vibration so you have one point of contact.
Data & automation
Acoustics, with code
Monitoring generates a lot of data, and too much of it still gets copied between spreadsheets by hand. I write software to fix that.
Recently I built a pipeline that takes a client's live noise monitoring data and feeds it straight into a third-party web portal, giving the project team industry-leading presentation and analysis tools with up-to-date data.
I can do the same for your monitoring, assessments or reporting, whether that's a one-off script or a tool your team uses every day. Outside work I also build small tools for fun, like ReLap, a lap editor for Garmin activities.
Experience
Projects I've worked on
Sullivan Acoustics is new; the experience behind it isn't. These are projects I've personally worked on over 20 years in senior roles with UK acoustic consultancies, before setting up on my own. The roles shown are mine.
Recent infrastructure
-
Thames Tideway Tunnel, Central section
Long-term support across the Central section: construction noise prediction modelling, environmental compliance assessments, Trigger Action Plan reviews and mitigation advice.
-
Silvertown Tunnel
Five years leading noise, vibration and air quality: construction noise modelling, Section 61 applications, monitoring, monthly reporting, mitigation and management of specialist subconsultants.
-
Grain to Tilbury cable tunnel
Noise impact assessments supporting regulatory approvals for 24/7 shaft construction on the National Grid tunnel replacement, plus baseline noise and air quality monitoring and early mitigation advice.
-
Ontario Line South
Construction noise and mitigation assessments, restructuring a monitoring programme of 30 permanent monitors, and automation tools for routine assessment and reporting.
Planning & impact assessments
-
Quarry permission review
Noise and vibration chapter of the Environmental Statement for a sandstone quarry's minerals permission review: a 7-day baseline survey, ISO 9613-2 modelling in SoundPLAN and noise limits set under minerals planning guidance.
-
Quarries, minerals & waste
Assessments for sand and mineral extraction sites, and for recycling and waste facilities, with baseline surveys, operational noise modelling and advice on planning conditions.
-
EIA & ESIA chapters
Environmental Statement noise and vibration chapters for City of London developments including 1 Liverpool Street and 101 Moorgate, and ESIA inputs for NEOM.
-
Development planning
Many planning noise assessments for housing, mixed-use, commercial, waste and industrial sites, including BS 4142 assessments and responses to planning conditions.
Earlier highlights
-
Crossrail
21 contracts across tunnelling, stations and shafts. Led groundborne monitoring on the first TBM to break ground and coordinated cumulative impacts around Liverpool Street.
-
NEOM
3D construction and operational noise modelling and technical inputs to ESIAs for logistics, airport and facility projects.
-
Network Rail & London Underground
12+ schemes including Bank Station Capacity Upgrade, Kings Cross roof refurbishment and Great Western Electrification.
How I work
Part of your team, not another layer
I work best embedded in a client's team: on your calls, at your site meetings and working to your programme. You deal with me directly from first conversation to final report.
Contractors
Tier 1 contractors and their supply chain who need consents, monitoring and day-to-day noise and vibration advice.
Consultancies
Acoustic and environmental consultancies who need extra capacity, senior cover or specialist construction experience on a bid or project.
Larger jobs
When a project needs more resource, I bring in associate consultants I trust, so you still have one accountable lead. Outside the South, local associates keep site work economical.
About
Hello, I'm Richard
I've spent more than 20 years in acoustic consultancy, the last decade as a Technical Director. Most of that time has been on the contractor side of big infrastructure projects, where noise and vibration have to work on site and not just on paper.
Along the way I've managed commissions from a few days' work to programmes worth over £2 million, and held roles including Head of Delivery, Technical Manager and Quality Manager. I set up Sullivan Acoustics to get back to what I enjoy most: working closely with project teams and solving real problems.
- BSc (Hons) Acoustics, University of Salford
- Member, Institute of Acoustics (MIOA)
- IOSH Managing Safely
- Professional indemnity & public liability insured
- SoundPLAN · CadnaA · NoiseMap SiteNoise · QGIS · MATLAB
Kind words
Client testimonial to follow. A short quote of two or three sentences about working with Richard works best here.
Client testimonial to follow. Ideally from a contractor or consultancy, mentioning the project and the outcome.
Contact
Let's talk about your project
Tell me a little about the job and I'll get back to you within one working day.
- Phone
- 07000 000000
- Based
- Portsmouth, working across the South and London. UK-wide and international projects always welcome.