Low Road Noise
Minimal traffic noise
Low road noise is the lowest band the report derives from strategic noise maps. The figure captures road traffic only, not railways or aircraft. Lden sums a full year of that traffic noise into one figure, weighted towards evening and night. The four UK nations each publish their own version of these maps.
What This Means
Traffic noise here is modelled as low, so it should rarely dominate how the house feels. Towards the top of the band, some road noise will still be noticeable outside. It is an outdoor model of the building's location, not a reading inside any home, and a flat facing a nearby road can hear more. This does not normally affect mortgage approval, buildings insurance or resale.
Score Ranges
Low Noise
45 to 65 dB LdenModelled outdoor traffic noise is low.
Medium Noise
65 to 75 dB LdenModelled outdoor traffic noise is clearly audible, more so at busy times.
High Noise
Over 75 dB LdenModelled outdoor traffic noise is loud and constant.
Practical Advice
- Visit at different times of day to confirm how the location feels.
- Ask the seller whether a school run, a delivery route or a pub queue reaches the street.
- Ask your conveyancer's local authority search whether any road scheme is proposed near this property.
Additional Information
Strategic mapping covers major roads, meaning those carrying more than three million vehicles a year. A busy local rat run below that threshold adds nothing to the band. So a low figure is not proof of a quiet street. The linked collection covers England only.