Welcome to Scotland's noise

New Scottish Noise Maps and Action Plans

The Environmental Noise Directive requires, on a five yearly cycle, the Scottish Government to produce strategic noise maps. Noise action plans will be prepared based on the results of the noise mapping, with a public consultation on the draft action plans. The Scottish Government has commissioned work on the collaborative development of modelling and mapping to describe the noise exposure in Scotland for 2021. The work will be completed in early 2024 as part of the fourth round of noise mapping for Scotland, under the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

The noise modelling work will develop a geospatial model of the country and the updated mapping system will be capable of appraising national strategy, local policy, and individual interventions. This innovative work will include new road and rail noise source data, and a new calculation methodology (CNOSSOS) to significantly improve the evidence base.

The Scottish Noise Mapping Stakeholder Group will oversee the collaborative development of the noise maps.

The noise maps will support the delivery of new noise actions plans to prioritise the management of noise in Noise Management Areas, as specified by the Environment Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Current Scottish Noise Maps and Action Plans

The Scottish Government has produced these maps in response to the European Parliament and Council Directive for Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise 2002/49/EC, more commonly referred to as the Environmental Noise Directive (END).

The three main objectives of the directive are as follows.

To embrace their responsibility to deliver the requirements of the END legislation the Scottish Government published the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Scottish legislation describes a two-step process to manage environmental noise.

Step Detail
One Produce strategic noise maps for major roads, rail, airports, and industry
Two Competent authorities to draw up action plans to manage noise

The key differences between Round 1 and Round 2 are the criteria used to select the transportation links that are to be modeled. These are summarised in the following table. Round 3 data is a 5 year update of Round 2.

Round three noise exposure statistics have now been analysed and added to this website.

This site will allow you to view the round 2 and round 3 noise maps.

To view the archived first and second round noise exposure statistics reported to Europe:

Supporting information in respect to Action Planning can be found here. Should you wish to provide feedback on any aspect of the maps or the Guidance on Action Planning you may do so here.

You may be interested in the frequently asked questions (FAQs).


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