Noise Insulation Scheme

The Noise Insulation Grant Scheme (NIS) has been established by Aberdeen International Airport Limited ("Aberdeen International Airport") to provide an opportunity for eligible properties (as set out below) to apply for a noise insulation grant.  The NIS reflects our aim to be respectful of the local community and our impact on people who live and learn in close proximity to Aberdeen International Airport. 

The management of the NIS is overseen by an independent management committee made up of airport managers and representatives of the local communities, known as the Airport Consultative Committee (ACC).

For more information regarding the ACC, please visit Airport Consultative Committee (ACC).

Any grant awarded under the NIS will be subject to the terms and conditions set out in the relevant grant award letter issued by or on behalf of Aberdeen International Airport.

We are aware that noise created by aircraft taking off from, and landing at, Aberdeen International Airport may sometimes cause disturbance to our neighbouring communities. 

The aim of the NIS is for Aberdeen International Airport to work collaboratively with the community to ensure that the indoor living spaces of eligible households and noise sensitive buildings are not unduly adversely affected by potential noise from aircraft.  To achieve this, eligible properties will be able to apply for funding toward proportionate insulation works to ensure that habitable rooms have satisfactory internal protection from noise that may be generated by aircraft taking off and landing at Aberdeen International Airport.

The NIS will be available to eligible residential properties and hospitals and schools that were built before the 1^st November 2023 (i.e. before the month in which the scheme was launched). In accordance with Department for Transport policy these properties are to be situated within the 63dB 16-hour summer day L_Aeq noise contour area which is published annually by Aberdeen International Airport.

The current 63dB 16-hour summer day L_Aeq noise contour area is shown below and digitally in the link below. These predictive maps of noise levels in decibels (dB) are updated yearly and are always based on the previous year's summer data as per the regulatory requirement.

View High Resolution Map

View Contour Map

The area covered by the noise contour can change dependant on the number of flights for the previous year.

It should be noted that:

• a property will not be eligible for the NIS where it satisfies the eligibility criteria due to a change of use (eg. a commercial property converting to residential), after the scheme implementation; and
• in the event that grant funding is provided for a property, such property will not be eligible for any further NIS grant funding for a period of 10 years from the initial grant funding. Thereafter, the owners of the property may re-apply to the NIS to seek further grant funding for noise insulation works (which may include new works or the replacement of existing works if they are no longer fit for purpose).

The decision to award NIS grant funding and the payment of any associated claims for grant funding are at the total discretion of Aberdeen International Airport and the ACC.  Applicants should note that there is no guarantee that their application for grant funding will be accepted even if their property is an eligible property.

If an application is successful, the applicant will be entitled to submit a claim for the re-imbursement of costs relating to the implementation of recommended noise insulation works carried out at the property up to the maximum value of the grant award as specified in the grant award letter.

The maximum available amount of NIS grant funding which may be awarded is limited to £5,000 (inclusive of VAT) per eligible property (and in the case of individual applications the maximum amount of NIS grant funding available will be as specified in the grant award letter and may be less than £5,000).  Applicants should review the terms of any grant award letter carefully to ensure that the maximum value of grant award specified is understood and that the applicant does not unintentionally instruct works with a contractor at a cost in excess of this maximum available grant amount (taking account of any VAT which may be payable).

Applicants should be aware that any sums payable by the applicant for noise insulation works in excess of the amount of specified grant award (including any amounts in respect of VAT) will be the sole responsibility of the applicant.

By way of an illustrative example only (and assuming an applicable VAT rate of 20%):

In a situation where the grant amount you have been awarded is £5,000 and you have instructed your contractor to undertake noise insulation improvements to your property costing £4,500 (plus VAT), then assuming you are entitled to submit a claim for such improvements in accordance with the grant award letter for the full grant amount, you will remain responsible for any amounts payable to the contractor in excess of £5,000 (i.e. you will be liable for an additional £400 for amounts which cannot be recovered as grant funding under the grant award letter).  This is because the quote of £4500 (plus VAT) means that the contractor requires a total payment of £5400 when accounting for the VAT.  This figure is £400 in excess of the total grant amount that has been awarded under the grant award letter and you would be required to pay for this excess amount yourself.

Aberdeen International Airport will appoint an independent consultant to undertake a survey of eligible properties who have applied to the NIS. This will identify what, if any, insulation may be effective in achieving efficient noise reduction. If the survey identifies that additional insulation may be effective in reducing internal noise levels, it will recommend the most appropriate form of insulation to be employed in each case.

Recommended noise insulation measures will be designed to improve upon the sound insulation performance of the weakest parts of the building façade. These are typically windows, doors (where they open into habitable rooms), and ventilation paths such as trickle vents. Depending on the existing performance of your property, recommended noise insulation works may include:

• Replacement/enhanced windows;
• Acoustic air vents or simple wall mounted ventilation systems;
• Loft insulation; and/or
• Replacement/enhanced external doors.

Recommendations on insulation may be included or excluded depending on the existing performance of a property. There may be properties where it is deemed that no additional benefit can be gained or even that installation could potentially cause degradation of noise performance. In these circumstances, installations will not be recommended.

In the event that an NIS grant award is made, the recommended noise insulation works will be set out in the grant award letter.  Please be aware, it is a condition of the NIS that applicants will only be able to claim grant funding for noise insulation works made to their property which fall within any such recommended works.  The funding cannot be used to cover ancillary or non-related works or works not falling within the recommended works.

It is a condition of NIS grant funding, that applicants are required to select and engage their own contractor to complete any noise insulation improvements.  Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring that any contractor selected has the necessary skills and certifications required to complete any improvements or works which are contracted.

The NIS will be administered by an independent consultant that will provide a Helpdesk service, offering ongoing support and overseeing the process of the NIS from start to finish. This will include technical advice on the nature and scope of the NIS and eligibility via telephone ((+44 (0) 1273 526004) or email ( AberdeenNIS@andersonacoustics.co.uk).  

Guidance on best practice when appointing your contractor is available upon request.

Neither Aberdeen International Airport nor any independent consultant employed to administer the NIS (including any noise assessor partner) will accept any liability for an Applicant's contractor selection or for any recommended works completed by such contractor (or for the effectiveness, quality or compliance of any such works).

As explained above, the cost of any work not falling within the recommended works (or in excess of the recommended works) will not be recoverable under an NIS grant award. So additional works relating to windows in bathrooms, hallways or landings would need to be funded at the sole cost of the property owner.  In the event that an applicant intends to instruct additional works, the contractor will require to provide separate invoices for works covered by the NIS grant funding and those which are not.

If your property falls within the published noise contour in any given year, we will write to you before the relevant NIS application deadline and provide an information pack setting out how to apply for the NIS.  We will also write to the local authority of the affected areas to determine if any of the eligible properties are owned by social housing companies or are community noise sensitive buildings such as hospitals and schools. If you are a tenant of a private or council owned property, you should make contact with your landlord to discuss how best to make an application. 

It is not compulsory for a homeowner to participate in the NIS.  Residents may decline to participate but may still apply in a later year should you change your mind.

Please be aware that eligibility to apply for a grant does not entitle you to receive any funding under the NIS, the decision to award funding based on an application is made at the sole discretion of the Aberdeen International Airport and the ACC.

You can only apply for the NIS where you are the property owner. Where you are a tenant of a Local Authority you should make the relevant department within the authority aware of your property's eligibility. Councils may choose to apply collectively on behalf of tenants. For council owned properties, we will contact the relevant department of the council at the same time as making contact with you. We must receive written agreement from the council confirming that they have no objection to the proposed works.

You can only apply for the NIS where you are the property owner.  Where you are a tenant of a private landlord you should ask the landlord to apply directly for the NIS. Correspondence will be sent to the eligible property addressed to the “homeowner”. We recommend that if you wish for your landlord to apply, that you forward this leaflet onto them as a matter of priority.

The application process is outlined below:

• All addresses and councils within the 63dB 16-hour summer day L_Aeq noise contour area are invited by letter to apply for the NIS;
• The NIS Application Form must be completed by the applicant and submitted within the application window;
• Aberdeen International Airport will then consider applications in accordance with the term of the NIS and propose properties to be surveyed for insulation works to the ACC;
• Applications are considered by the ACC in accordance with the terms of the NIS and related decisions on the eligibility of applications so received are made at the sole discretion of the ACC;
• Final list of properties to be surveyed for insulation works approved by the ACC and applicants advised on the outcome;
• Our independent noise assessor will arrange a time to undertake a survey of the applicants property which will identify what, if any, insulation works may be effective in achieving appropriate noise reduction. If the survey identifies that additional insulation may be effective in reducing internal noise levels, it will recommend the most appropriate form of insulation to be employed in each case.
• Survey Report to be issued to the property owner and if appropriate grant offered by Aberdeen International Airport to the property owner who can then choose to accept or decline grant offer;
• If the grant offer is accepted by the property owner within the stated timeframe, the applicant must then source their own contractor.
• Once the insulation works are completed within the stated timeframe at the property to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicant, Aberdeen International Airport will ask the applicant to complete a grant claim form confirming this to Aberdeen International Airport and return it along with the related contractor’s valid invoice;
• Aberdeen International Airport will, upon receipt of both a valid claim form from the applicant and a valid contractor’s receipt, issue the grant payment to the applicant.

Any grant awarded under the NIS will be subject to the terms and conditions set out in the relevant grant award letter issued by or on behalf of Aberdeen International Airport. For the avoidance of doubt, there will be no binding relationship between Aberdeen International Airport and an applicant until such time as the applicant has accepted the award of the grant.

Aberdeen International Airport is happy to support residents in completing their application. Please let us know if this is the case by contacting us at. AberdeenNIS@andersonacoustics.co.uk or by telephone number ((+44 (0) 1273 526004).

If you disagree with our decision on whether to offer insulation of your home in terms of this NIS, you may appeal to the ACC.  Details of how to appeal are available at the ACC page.

The decision of the ACC on any such appeal will be final. The appeal is established on a case-by-case basis.