1. Noise Policy Update EPUK 2017 Annual Conference Jon Bowers
Senior Policy Adviser – Noise & Statutory Nuisance

2. Overview Basis of Government’s noise policy
Environmental Noise Directive - Round 3
25 Year Environment Plan
EU exit

3. Why do we work on managing noise and statutory nuisances?
Health impacts
Sleep disturbance; association with heart attacks & strokes
Economic impacts
Annual social cost of urban road noise in England estimated at £7-10 billion
Annual estimated cost of noise complaints to English local authories around £73 million
Social impacts
48% of people in UK felt noise spoils their home life to some extent in 2012

4. Government Noise Policy
Vision
Promote good health and a good quality of life through the effective management of noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable development

5. Environmental Noise Directive - requirements
Create strategic noise maps which estimate people’s exposure to environmental noise.
Adopt action plans based on the results of noise mapping, aimed at tackling the areas worst affected by transport noise (‘Important Areas’).
Aim to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good.
Provide information to the public on environmental noise and its effects.

6. Environmental Noise Directive – Round 3
Updated noise maps to be reported to the European Commission by end December 2017.
Updated noise action plans to be published by mid January 2019.

7. 25 Year Environment Plan
Our vision is to improve the environment within a generation.
In 25 years’ time we want cleaner air and water, richer habitats for more wildlife and an approach to agriculture and land use which puts the environment first.
Have begun discussions with stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities for noise policy over the next 25 years and the kind of policies and actions that may be needed to address them.

8. EU exit
The Withdrawal Bill will make sure the whole body of existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law, providing businesses and stakeholders with maximum certainty as we leave the EU.
We will then have the opportunity - over time and with appropriate Parliamentary scrutiny - to ensure our legislative framework delivers Defra Secretary of State’s aim of a “Green Brexit”.

9. Conclusions
Any questions?