Defra has published strategic noise map data that give a snapshot of the estimated noise from road and rail sources across England in 2021. The data was developed as part of implementing the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (‘the regulations’).

This data will help transport authorities to better identify and prioritise relevant local action on noise. It will also be useful for planners, academics and others working to assess noise and its impacts.

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources across England.

• The day-evening-night level (Lden) is a noise indicator for overall annoyance based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours with a 5 dB(A) penalty for evening noise (19:00-23:00) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for night-time noise (23:00-07:00).
• The 16-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,16h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 16-hour daytime period (07:00 to 23:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The day level (Lday) is a daytime noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the daytime period (07:00-19:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The evening level (Leve) is an evening noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the evening period (19:00-23:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The night level (Lnight) is a night-time noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the night period (23:00-07:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.

Noise levels are modelled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, with a lower threshold cutoff of 35dB for the Lnight metrics, and 40dB for all other metrics. Data is available for all road traffic sources and also those defined as "major" under the Regulations.

This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2022 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Areas which the Secretary of State considers to be urban (with a population greater than or equal to 100,000 people) where, under the Environmental Noise Directive (Round 2), Defra is required to undertake Strategic Noise Mapping.

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along major traffic routes. LAeq,16h indicates the annual average noise levels for the 16-hour period between 0700 – 2300. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 75.0+dB, 70.0-74.9dB, 65.0-69.9dB, 60.0-64.9dB, 55.0-59.9dB, <54.9dB. This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended)

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along major traffic routes. Lden indicates a 24 hour annual average noise level with separate weightings for the evening and night periods. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 75.0+ dB, 70.0-74.9 dB, 65.0-69.9 dB, 60.0-64.9 dB, 55.0-59.9 dB, <54.9 dB This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Levels of Noise Pollution in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) during Nighttime and 24-Hour Periods Based on Data from Strategic Noise Mapping. An Interactive Map Application Recommended Citation: Tsimpida, D., & Tsakiridi, A. (2025). Levels of noise pollution in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) during nighttime and 24-hour periods based on data from strategic noise mapping: An interactive map application. License: CC BY – This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. Information about Geographic Location of Data Collection: England Related Projects: Tsimpida, D., Environmental Health and Wellbeing Dynamics: Mapping High-Exposure Neighbourhoods and Assessing Transportation Noise Pollution's Impact on Population Health. This project is funded by the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (SRI), University of Southampton. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of SRI or the University of Southampton. Methodological Information: To quantify noise pollution, we used the new Noise Mapping Geographic Information Systems (GIS) datasets developed by Defra that calculate noise exposure levels and are openly available: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Strategic noise mapping (2022) [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-noise-mapping-2022 For our analyses, we used both the day-evening-night level (Lden) and the night level (Lnight). The Lden level is a noise metric used to assess overall annoyance, calculated as the annual average A-weighted sound level over a 24-hour period. This measure includes a 5-decibel (dB(A)) penalty for evening noise (7 pm to 11 pm) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for nighttime noise (11 pm to 7 am). The Lnight is a nighttime noise indicator that reflects the annual average A-weighted sound level during the night period (11 pm to 7 am), representing the total sound energy equivalent to the fluctuating noise levels experienced throughout that period. _ Geospatial Analysis Information: All geospatial models in this study used Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) as the unit of analysis. In all analyses, we used the LSOA boundaries published by the Office for National Statistics as of March 21, 2021: Office for National Statistics. Census 2021 geographies [Internet]. 2021. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/ukgeographies/censusgeographies/census2021geographies _ Integrated Care Board Boundaries: Digital vector boundaries for Integrated Care Boards in England were those published by the Office for National Statistics: Integrated Care Boards (April 2023) EN BGC [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/d6bcd7d1-0143-4366-9622-62a99b362a5c/integrated-care-boards-april-2023-en-bgc This version of the dataset, https://doi.org/10.5258/soton/d3377v2, was updated on 2015/02/17. The previous version is available at https://doi.org/10.5258/soton/d3377v1

The data show the estimated number of people affected by noise from road traffic, railway and industrial sources, based on an annual average 24 hour period for the situation in 2011. The information arose from the strategic noise mapping undertaken to meet the requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC (the Environmental Noise Directive (END)) and the corresponding regulations.

The information is given for each agglomeration covered by the END and for the major road and railway sources outside agglomerations as defined in the END. Other notes:

• There is no requirement to map industrial sources outside agglomerations.

• Not all agglomerations have industrial sources covered by the END that cause population to be exposed to noise levels in the ranges shown

• The noise exposure ranges shown reflect the requirements of the END

• The END is not prescriptive over exactly what noise sources have to be included in the strategic noise mapping.

• For all agglomerations, the road noise mapping was based on Motorways and A roads only, using data compiled by the Department for Transport.

• For all agglomerations, the railway noise mapping was based on the standard passenger and freight network only.

• For industry, only those sites which met the definition of a Part A(1) activity as described in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 were included.

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of road sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along major traffic routes. Lnight indicates night time annual average noise level results in dB, where night is defined as 2300 - 0700. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 70.0+ dB, 65.0-69.9 dB, 60.0-64.9 dB, 55.0-59.9 dB, 50-54.9 dB, <49.9 dB This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of rail sources across England.

• The day-evening-night level (Lden) is a noise indicator for overall annoyance based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours with a 5 dB(A) penalty for evening noise (19:00-23:00) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for night-time noise (23:00-07:00).
• The 16-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,16h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 16-hour daytime period (07:00 to 23:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The day level (Lday) is a daytime noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the daytime period (07:00-19:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The evening level (Leve) is an evening noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the evening period (19:00-23:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The night level (Lnight) is a night-time noise indicator based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the night period (23:00-07:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The 6-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,6h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 6-hour period (24:00 to 06:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.
• The 18-hour equivalent continuous level (LAeq,18h) is a noise indicator which describes the annual average steady noise level over the 18-hour period (06:00 to 24:00) which contains the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound across the same period.

Noise levels are modelled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, with a lower threshold cutoff of 35dB for the Lnight and LAeq,6h metrics, and 40dB for all other metrics. Data is available for all railway sources and also those defined as "major" under the Regulations.

This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2022 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Data indicating the level of noise according to the strategic noise mapping of rail sources within areas with a population of at least 100,000 people (agglomerations) and along Network Rail and HS1 traffic routes. LAeq,16h indicates the annual average noise levels for the 16-hour period between 0700 – 2300. Noise levels are modeled on a 10m grid at a receptor height of 4m above ground, polygons are then produced by merging neighboring cells within the following noise classes: 75.0+dB, 70.0-74.9dB, 65.0-69.9dB, 60.0-64.9dB, 55.0-59.9dB, <54.9dB. This data is a product of the strategic noise mapping analysis undertaken in 2017 to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) and the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended)

Noise Action Plans are required by the Environmental Noise Directive. The 3 Noise Action Plans provide a framework for the local management of the Important Areas.