Noise and Deprivation in Scotland's Four Largest Cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee

Scotland's draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Integrated Impact Assessment states that deprived communities tend to be exposed to higher levels of noise than those in less deprived areas. However, this has not yet been specifically investigated in Scotland. The majority of studies find a higher likelihood of noise exposure in deprived communities, although some find the opposite to be true, suggesting that the relationship is highly dependent on the context of the study area. To address a need in the literature for more research in this area and to comment on the statement in NPF4, a spatial analysis has been conducted using Scottish Government published datasets, the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and the Round 3 Noise Mapping. A statistically significant positive relationship between noise exposure and multiple deprivation is found in Glasgow. No statistically significant relationship between noise exposure and multiple deprivation is found for Aberdeen, Dundee or Edinburgh. The relationships between deprivation and both Noise Management Areas and proximity to Quiet Areas are explored.