The Environmental Noise Directive requires, on a five yearly cycle, the Scottish Government to produce strategic noise maps. The Directive was transposed into Scottish legislation under the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and amended by the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.

Strategic noise map analysis aims to:

(1) to determine the noise exposure of the population through noise mapping;

(2) to make information available on environmental noise to the public; and

(3) to establish action plans based on the mapping results, to reduce levels where necessary, and to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good.

The noise mapping will support the consultation, preparation, and delivery of the required action plans for Agglomerations (Local Authority responsibility), all Trunk roads, rail, and wider transport policy (Transport Scotland responsibility), and airports (Airport Operators responsibility).