Urban Noise Action Planning ‐ an integrated approach towards noise abatement in the frame of urban development: Tools and recommendations developed within the SILENCE project

Abstract

Noise action planning following the European Directive on Environmental Noise is for many cities a new, additional task. It will probably be not very successful when considered as mere duty separated from other urban policy areas. Today, noise does not rank high on the local political agenda. Human and financial resources provided for noise abatement tend to be low. Furthermore, looking at concrete noise abatement measures it becomes clear that most effective measures also impact on other policy areas (air quality, mobility, etc.). Therefore it is advisable to link noise action planning closely with other urban plans like development plans, mobility plans, clean air programmes, etc. This requires a strong involvement of the relevant stakeholders as well as knowledge about the potential impact of noise abatement measures on other policy areas. To support local authorities in this complex task the SILENCE project developed a guidebook which comprises recommendations on organisational settings, on the involvement of stakeholders and the public, the action planning process as well as on a range of noise abatement measures. The description of these measures refers not only to their noise abatement potential but takes also into account their ‐ positive or negative ‐ impact on other policy areas.