Noise Complaint Statistics 2022-23 report released
We can’t escape noise in our everyday lives. Often complaints are made to local council environmental health officers who deal with this area as noise can be damaging to health.
The ‘Noise Complaint Statistics 2022-23’ report has been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
And the ‘quietest’ council area with the least complaints is… Newry Mourne and Down District Council.
The purpose of this report is to inform central government, district councils, the general public and any other interested parties as to the number and nature of noise complaints.
The period is for those complaints received between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023 by district councils across Northern Ireland.
It is available at:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/noise-complaint-statistics-northern-ireland-2022-2023
Key points from the report:
- Figures collated by district councils show that a total of 11,338 complaints were received in 2022/23, down 14.5% compared to the previous year’s figure (13,261). 10 out of the 11 councils reported a decrease in complaints on the previous year.
- The greatest number of complaints received were from Belfast City District Council (16.54 complaints per 1,000 people) and the fewest complaints received were from Newry Mourne and Down District Council (2.14 per 1,000 persons).
- There has been a 34.6% decrease in the number of notices served this year compared to last year (225 served this year and 344 served in 2021/22). There were 4 prosecutions for the 2022/23 year, compared to no prosecutions in 2021/22 and two in 2020/21.
The majority of complaints to councils concern the following types of noise:
- Domestic noise – 77.08%
- Commerce and Leisure – 10.95%
- Noise in the street – 4.69%
- Construction – 3.22%
- Industrial – 2.37%
- Transport – 1.68%.
