Surge in noise complaints in London during the first lockdown

Noise complaints in London increased by nearly 50% during the first lockdown in Spring 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, finds a report by UCL researchers. Complaints about neighbourhood noise - mainly from residents - and construction increased the most, at 36% and 50% respectively. Areas with higher unemployment rates, more residents with no qualifications and lower house prices saw the biggest rise in complaints. Between the 27th March and 31st May 2020 there were 25,740 complaints, compared with 17,446 in the same period in 2019. Haringey showed the biggest year-on-year increase of 175%, followed by Barking and Dagenham at 104% and Hounslow and Bexley at 84%. Barnet was the only borough to report a decrease of nearly 21%. Researcher Andrew Mitchell (UCL Institute for Environmental Design & Engineering - IEDE) said: "We knew there was this decrease in noise levels and we were expecting to see a corresponding decrease in complaints, but instead we saw this marked increase.
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