Noise pollution

Introduction

Noise is a sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance.i Exposure to

excessive noise can cause serious harm to humans. It can interfere with people’s daily activities at

school, work, home and during leisure time. It can disturb sleep, cause cardiovascular and

psychophysiological effects, reduce performance and provoke annoyance, responses and changes in

social behaviour.ii

In the UK, about 30% of the population express dissatisfaction with their noise environment.iii

Risk factors and vulnerable groups

Social inequalities may be exacerbated as the most deprived areas are often located in close

proximity to major transport axes, such as railway stations or depots, main roads, busy junctions,

airports and flight paths. These areas are often at the highest risk from noise exposure as well as

from air pollution.iv Those in lower paid jobs are also most at risk of poor working environment and

practices.v

What is the evidence base?

Noise management is a complex issue and at times requires complex solutions.vi,vii There are many

ways of reducing noise and noise exposure and often a combination of methods works best.viii These

include:

Environmental noise - which includes noise from transportation sources.

Neighbour noise - which includes noise from inside and outside people’s homes.

Neighbourhood noise - which includes noise arising from within the community such as

Industrial and entertainment premises, trade and business premises, construction sites and

noise in the street.

The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) “aims to avoid significant adverse impacts on health

and quality of life from environmental, neighbour and neighbourhood noise within the context of

Government policy on sustainable development. It recognises the need to manage noise, for which

Defra has the overall responsibility in England”.48

The application of the NPSE should mean noise is properly taken into account in the appropriate

time.ix

Local picture

Most urban noise in residential areas is traffic-related. Nightclubs, bars and parties are other sources

of noise in more central areas. In non‐industrial urban environments, opinion poll research

conducted in 2003 found that environmental noise problems are worse in areas of high density

housing, rented accommodation (both social and private sectors), areas of deprivation and areas

which are highly urbanised,x all of which have higher rates within Luton compared to the England

average.

Luton is served by the M1 motorway, a railway line with three stations and a busy airport, which is

due to increase from 12 million passengers per year to 18 million by 2031. Luton has a high

population density of 48 people per hectare which is greater than many London boroughs.14

Strategic noise mapping1 using national calculation methods and using data supplied by local

authorities to model the percentage of the population exposed to road, rail and air transport noise

of 65 and 55 dB between 07:00-23:00 shows that Luton is lower than the national average and most

statistical neighbours (Figure 16 and Figure 17).

Figure 16: Proportion of population exposure to road, rail and air transport noise during daytime, 2011.

Source: PHE and Luton PHI

What is being done locally?

London Luton airport has various measures to control noise and it monitors noise closely to assess

any trends in order to minimise the impact of its operations.xi There has been an impact assessment

on the expansion plan that recommended no additional mitigating factors are required on the

impact aircraft ground noise at existing properties or increased road traffic associated with the

proposed development.xii

There is a range of advice sheets available on the council websitexiii and guidance on reporting noise

disturbances. The Council investigates complaints about noise and can take varying action

dependent on the type and duration.

Perspective of the public/service users

The Luton Citizens Panel Survey 2012xiv reported that only 11% reported that noisy neighbours or

loud parties were a very big or fairly big problem. This was down from 16% in 2008xv. Additionally

the rate of complaints from Luton residents is below the England average (Figure 17).

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Figure 17: The rate of complaints about noise, 2012/13

Source: PHE and Luton PHI

Priorities

1. Map noise complaints across the borough to provide a greater understanding of any noise

hotspots affecting local residents, allowing for targeted local action.

2. Monitor measures in place ensure that the impact of noise as a result of airport expansion is

mitigated.

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References i Oxford dictionary. Noise. [Online] Available from:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/noise

ii World Health Organisation. Noise. [Online] 2009. Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-

topics/environment-and-health/noise/noise

iii Maynard R. and Moorhouse A (eds.) Environmental Noise and Health in the UK. [Online] Health Protection

Agency. Available from:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140714084352/http:/www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAwe

b_C/1246433634856

iv World Health Organisation. Environmental health inequalities in Europe: Assessment report. [Online].

Denmark: WHO, 2012. Available from:

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/157969/e96194.pdf?ua=1

v Siegrist J, Benach J, McKnight and Goldblatt P. Employment arrangements, work conditions and health

inequalities. [Online] Available from: https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/employment-and-

work-task-group-report/employment-and-work-task-group-full-report.pdf

vi European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Noise reduction and control. [Online] Bilbao: European

Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2005. Available from:

https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheets/58

vii DEFRA. Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE). [Online] 2010. Available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69533/pb13750-noise-

policy.pdf

viii Health and Safety Executive. How do I reduce noise? [Online] London: DEFRA, 2010. Available from:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/Noise/reducenoise.htm

ix Waddington D, Clayton T, Fiumicelli D, Clarke T, and Mitchell S. The Noise Policy Statement for England:

Significance, application and implications. [Online] Available from:

http://usir.salford.ac.uk/18584/1/NPSE_Acoustics_Bulletin_article.pdf

x Grant M, Bird C and Marno P. Working Paper: Health Inequalities and determinants in the physical urban

environment: Evidence briefing. [Online]. Bristol: WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, 2012. Available from: http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=118056

xi London Luton Airport. Noise. [Online] 2015. Available from: http://www.london-

luton.co.uk/en/content/8/231/noise.html

xii Ove Arup & Partners Ltd. Health Impact Assessment. [Online] 2012. Available from:

http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=134376

xiii The council. Noise. [Online] Available from:

http://www.luton.gov.uk/environment/environmental%20health/noise/Pages/default.aspx

xiv

The council. Luton Citizens’ Panel Survey – June 2012. [Online] 2012. Available from:

http://www.luton.gov.uk/Council_government_and_democracy/Lists/LutonDocuments/PDF/Consultation/Full

%20reports/report_8805_%20d2.pdf

xv The council. Luton Citizens’ Panel Survey – January 2011. [Online] 2011. Available from:

http://www.luton.gov.uk/Council_government_and_democracy/Lists/LutonDocuments/PDF/Consultation/Rep

orts/Final%20report.pdf