Neighbours of sex toy warehouse complain about the excessive noise coming from the facility at 4am

Lovehoney in Bath has angered residents by switching on heat pumps The sex toy  company has been forced to apply for retrospective planning permission 

Neighbours of a sex toy warehouse have complained about the excessive noise coming from the facility in the early hours of the morning.

Lovehoney in Bath – which specialises in sex toys, lingerie, bondage kits and condoms – has angered residents by switching on heat pumps at 4am everyday.

The sex toy company has been forced to apply for retrospective planning permission for the four pumps that are installed in the warehouse.

Lovehoney was founded in Bath in 2002 by Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst and moved into the warehouse the following year.

Planning documents show that the heat pumps were measured at 16 decibels louder than background noise.

Lovehoney in Bath – which specialises in sex toys, lingerie, bondage kits and condoms – has angered residents by switching on heat pumps at 4am everyday

A noise impact assessment (NIA) carried out by acoustic consultant Chris Parker-Jones has now recommended that the offending units are housed in acoustic enclosures.

In his report he wrote: ‘It is understood that some of the surrounding residential properties have complained to Bath and North East Somerset Council about the level of noise, who have subsequently required this NIA to be produced.’

He said that the required level of reduction would not be achieved simply by moving them, changing to a quieter alternative or installing a barrier or fence around them.

Mr Parker-Jones added: ‘The applicant should, therefore, look to rehouse the offending units within an acoustic enclosure or enclosures, and submit updated plans and a datasheet to the Local Planning Authority from the enclosure manufacturer which verifies that it can reduce noise emissions by a minimum of 16 decibels.’

The sex toy company was founded in Bath in 2002 by Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst and moved into the warehouse the following year

Gary Box, a spokesman from Lovehoney, said the application was to install a heating and cooling system that will replace a temporary gas boiler and electric chiller.

He wrote: ‘The units are standalone government approved air source heat pumps.

‘These have been installed to reduce both our energy consumption and carbon footprint.

‘This has also been done to make Lovehoney a more sustainable company.

‘By doing this we have removed gas consumption not to use fossil fuels anymore.’

A decision on the application will be made by Bath and North East Somerset Council at a later date.