Amenity in the built environment

The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement published by the Department for Transport in November 2013, defines ‘amenity’ as:

‘The benefits of enjoyment and well-being which are gained from a resource in line with its intended function. Amenity may be affected by a combination of factors such as: sound, noise and vibration; dust/air quality; traffic/congestion; and visual impacts.’

The SuDS Manual defines amenity as ‘a useful or pleasant facility or service’, which includes both the tangible and the less tangible. It also suggests amenity ‘…covers liveability, which is associated with factors that improve the quality of life for inhabitants. Liveability encompasses the well-being of a community and of individuals and comprises the many characteristics that make a location a place where people want to live and work.’

Ref The SuDS Manual, CIRIA C753, 2015.

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