For the first time noise is included as an indicator of deprivation in England and Wales. Both administrations published updated Indices of Deprivation in November. This data is used by local policy makers to help target activities and funding where they are most needed, and include income, health, education, housing and the physical environment. For Wales, noise pollution now makes up 15% of the physical environment domain (alongside air pollution 35%, flood risk 35% and green space access 15%). For England, noise is included in the Outdoors Living Environment Deprivation Domain alongside air quality and road accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians. The noise sub-domain score for both is based on the proportion of the population exposed to noise pollution from road and rail sources, measured across the day evening and night, greater than or equal to 55 dBLden.
Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation
English indices of deprivation 2025
