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Noise: Noise mapping

Noise mapping England

Seach by postcode to find interactive noise maps of cities and large urban areas in England.

You can also view airports and download noise maps of the major transportation links between cities and large urban areas.

24 March 2009 - Draft noise action plans and guidance for Airport Operators to produce airport noise action plans has been published.

About the noise maps

The noise maps provide an overview of the ambient noise climate in cities and major transportation sources in England.

Ambient or environmental noise is unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities. This includes noise created by transportation, such as road, rail and air traffic, and from industrial activity.

The maps account for the number of people affected by different levels of ambient noise, the source of that noise (i.e. road, rail, air or industry) and the locations of the people affected.

The mapping was carried out during 2006-07 in line with the Department’s work to implement the EU’s Environmental Noise Directive. They incorporate the noise maps produced for the 18 English airports that were published last December. 

Regulations

These noise maps have been produced to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 and Directive 2002/49/EC – more commonly known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END) – and are intended to inform the production of noise action plans, which are to be developed on a five year rolling programme.

The action plans will seek to manage noise issues and effects including noise reduction if necessary, based on the results obtained through the mapping process.

Next steps

The next stage of the Department’s work to implement the directive will be to develop action plans. This includes a public consultation on the draft Noise Action Plans from 15 July – 4 November 2009.

Page last modified: 26 March 2009