What are the criteria for noise barriers?
The criteria for sound barriers being constructed are dependent upon the Government classifying an area as a “noisy” site. These sites were formerly known as Hansard Sites, and the list was last updated in 2005. The ring-fenced budget for Hansard sites ends on 31 March 2011 and those sites on the original list are to be treated within this time period. Our future noise management/reduction policies will be driven by the Environmental Noise Directive (END), which was transposed into UK law on 1 October 2006 under the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 and is being led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
