Six Surrey areas among the 10 most sleep-deprived in the South East due to transport noise pollution
Six areas of Surrey are among the 10 most sleep-deprived in the South East due to transport noise pollution, according to new data.
Bedroom furnishings experts Bed Kingdom gathered data on the number of good years of health lost (DALYs Disability Adjusted Life Years) due to highly disturbed sleep from road, rail and aircraft noise pollution per 100,000 people.
The data was sourced from a peer-reviewed scientific article published in 2023, which used data from the 2018 regional strategic noise mapping in England.
Runnymede has been identified as the most sleep-deprived district in the South East due to transport noise pollution, with residents losing a staggering 360.94 years of good health per 100,000 people each year.
The primary source of this disruption is road noise from the M25 and M3 motorways, which accounts for 328.50 years lost.
Ranked second in the South East, Windsor and Maidenhead experience substantial sleep disturbances due to transport noise, with a total of 311.86 years of good health per 100,000 people lost annually.
The district is particularly affected by aircraft noise from Heathrow Airport, which contributes 186.12 years lost.
Slough ranks third among the most affected districts in the South East, with 249.32 years of good health per 100,000 people lost each year due to transport noise pollution.
Road noise is the leading cause of sleep disruption, particularly from the M4 and A4 roads, accounting for 138.50 years lost.
Tandridge is the fourth most affected district in the South East, with residents losing 175.06 years of good health per 100,000 people annually due to transport noise.
Road noise, primarily from the M25 motorway, is the major contributor, causing 93.10 years lost, while aircraft noise from Gatwick Airport also plays a significant role.
In Eastleigh, transport noise leads to a loss of 171.62 years of good health per 100,000 people each year, placing the district fifth in the South East.
The primary source of noise disruption is road traffic, especially from the M27 and M3 motorways, responsible for 155.50 years lost.
Reigate and Banstead ranks sixth in the South East for sleep disturbances caused by transport noise, with 157.18 years of good health per 100,000 people lost annually.
Road noise, particularly from the M25 and A217 roads, is the largest contributor, with 91.10 years lost, followed by significant impacts from the Brighton Main Line railway.
Woking is the seventh most affected district in the South East, with 154.64 years of good health per 100,000 people lost each year due to transport noise pollution.
Road noise from the M25 and A320 roads is the predominant source of sleep disruption, causing 106.80 years lost.
Mole Valley ranks eighth in the South East, with transport noise leading to the loss of 153.79 years of good health per 100,000 people annually.
The district is particularly affected by road noise from the A24 and M25 roads, which account for 128.40 years lost.
Spelthorne is the ninth most affected district in the South East, with 149.97 years of good health per 100,000 people lost each year due to transport noise.
Road noise from the M3 and A308 roads is the main culprit, contributing 85.20 years lost, with significant additional impacts from Heathrow Airport and the South West Main Line.
Wokingham rounds out the top ten districts in the South East, with 143.33 years of good health per 100,000 people lost annually due to transport noise pollution.
The district is most impacted by road noise from the M4 and A329(M) roads, which causes 125.80 years lost, followed by railway noise from the South Western Main Line.
Ashley Hainsworth from Bed Kingdom said: “The number of healthy years lost due to sleep disturbances caused by transportation noise serves as a powerful indicator of the harm that excessive noise inflicts on our well-being.
“Consistent exposure to noise, especially at night, can significantly impair sleep quality, leading to a range of health issues, including stress, fatigue, and decreased cognitive function.
“The ranking emphasises the importance of considering the health impacts of noise in decision-making for new transportation initiatives and urban planning.
“To protect our well-being, it's crucial to adopt measures such as enhanced acoustic design for residential areas, quieter road surfaces, less noisy vehicles, and more carefully planned flight paths to reduce noise exposure.”