There are many underlying reasons for such an increase. The number of noise-generating appliances has increased substantially since the 1950s when building regulations first set the standards for noise control. Many more households now have domestic appliances — such as washing machines, telephones, vacuum cleaners — and entertainment equipment such as televisions, stereos and computers.
As the number of shared occupancies has dropped so our expectation of enjoying our own space undisturbed has increased, making us less tolerant of outside disturbance. There is no reason to think the problem will go away, particularly when planning policy seems set to provide even more noise pollution.
The latest planning guidance (PPG3) is intended to promote urban renewal by development of brownfield sites, conversion of existing buildings to multiple occupancies and an increase in housing densities. By bringing dwellings into closer proximity with one another and with other activities, the guidelines seem likely to increase the occurrence of intrusive noise problems.
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