More than one hundred million people in Europe are exposed to harmful transport noise - which is a major environmental health risk causing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and affecting ecosystems. An event in Brussels on June 24th aims to raise attention and exchange views on noise pollution, its impacts and solutions. It also marks the publication of the European Environment Agency flagship report ‘Noise in Europe 2025'.

The new draft Planning and Infrastructure Bill was debated in Parliament this week, and Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, spoke on her amendment which seeks to help prevent the closure of music venues, by putting a duty on decision makers to apply agent of change principles. She said "These are what existed since the National Planning Policy Statement 2018, and they require developers to make sure their developments do not disrupt existing businesses in the future, as well as places of worship, schools, transport infrastructure and so on.