Ground-Borne Noise & Vibration

Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey

Cass Allen was appointed by London Square to assess ground-borne vibration and structure-borne noise affecting Block W at the major mixed-use redevelopment of the former Biscuit Factory site in Bermondsey.

The project presents a particularly challenging vibration environment. Block W is located approximately 5 m from an elevated railway viaduct carrying 10–15 railway lines on the approach to London Bridge Station, requiring detailed assessment to demonstrate compliance with stringent planning criteria for residential amenity.

Cass Allen initially undertook tri-axial vibration measurements close to the proposed building façade, capturing vibration from individual train pass-bys and assessing both vibration dose values and resulting structure-borne noise within future dwellings. Measurements were obtained simultaneously in three axes, allowing both vertical and horizontal vibration transmission to be evaluated.

As construction progressed, Cass Allen undertook further measurements directly on the newly constructed pile caps. These identified horizontal vibration transmission perpendicular to the railway as the dominant transmission path, indicating that anti-vibration treatment may be required.

Cass Allen is continuing to work with the project team to evaluate the findings and develop an appropriate vibration isolation strategy, demonstrating the value of progressive, construction-stage verification on complex rail-adjacent developments.