Quiet area

A quiet area is an external space identified as such by local authorities under the Environmental Noise Regulations.

The regulations came out of European Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise, more commonly known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END).

The END recognises the need to prevent or reduce environmental noise levels that may negatively affect human health, and highlights the need to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good, as well as to preserve quiet areas.

Article 8 states that action plans for agglomerations with more than 250,000 inhabitants should ‘aim to protect quiet areas against an increase in noise'. Annex V sets out a requirement to report on actions or measures that authorities intend to take to preserve quiet areas. This may include; land use planning, systems engineering for traffic, traffic planning, and control of noise sources.

The END does not specify any requirements regarding the protection of quiet areas in open country.

Ref https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/good-practice-guide-on-quiet-areas/download

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