Acoustic easements

Aeronautical acoustic easements were legally introduced by article 63 of Law 55/1999, of 30 December, which introduces the Single Additional Clause of Law 48/1960, of 21 July, on Air Navigation, by which the acoustic easements are recognised as “legal easements imposed due to air navigation”. By Law 5/2010, of 17 March, which modifies Law 48/1960, of 21 July, on Air Navigation, both the approval procedure of acoustic easements of airports is established as well as the period to approve the those corresponding to airports with more than 50,000 operations per year.

Moreover, Law 37/2003, of 17 November, on Noise, also introduced the possibility of establishing easements in the land sectors affected by the functioning or development of transport infrastructure, and it is in Royal Decree 1367/2007, which develops the Noise Act in terms of acoustic zoning, objectives of quality and noise pollution, where the technical criteria are established to limit them.

The Noise Act defines the areas of acoustic easement as land sectors in which noise can exceed the acoustic quality objectives applicable to the corresponding acoustic areas and where restrictions can be established for certain uses of land, activities, facilities or buildings, with the purpose of, at least, complying with the limit noise values established for them.

Acoustic easements are aimed at achieving the compatibility of the functioning or development of transport infrastructure, with the use of land, activities, facilities or buildings established in the area affected by the noise coming from said infrastructure.