The impact of covid-19 restrictions on complaints of noise made to a local authority in Northern Ireland - a case study.

Abstract

The covid pandemic with national lockdowns and restrictions profoundly affected people's lives in many ways including the experience of neighbourhood noise. While initial research indicated a rise in noise complaints at the start of restrictions in London during Spring 2020 (Tong, 2021), a case study involving a single local authority in Northern Ireland indicates a different experience when the full 2020 year was analysed. Total number of complaints did not see a statistically significant increase when compared to the 5-year average. While there were increases in some categories of noise of interest (loud music and parties, noise associated with anti-social behaviour), the comparison with the 5-year average did not show a statistically significant difference. The only category of noise that seen an increase of significance was noise complaints relating to retail. This may be explained by increased demand in essential food retail as well as social distancing requirements, limitations to customers inside premises and changes made as the retail sector adapted. A wider study involving local authorities across Northern Ireland, the UK and across countries that experienced lockdown measures may reveal a more accurate picture of the impact of neighbourhood noise experienced during the covid pandemic.