Noise Complaint Statistics 2021-22 report released

The ‘Noise Complaint Statistics 2021-22’ report has been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.(DAERA).

The purpose of this report is to inform central government, district councils, the general public and any other interested parties as to the number and nature of noise complaints received between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022 by district councils across Northern Ireland. It is available at:

Download the report

Key points from the report:

• Figures collated by district councils show that a total of 13,261 complaints were received in 2021/22, up 26.4% compared to the previous year’s figure (10,494). 8 out of the 11 councils reported an increase in complaints on the previous year.
• This represents the highest number of complaints received since records began in 2003/04.
• The greatest number of complaints received were from Belfast City Council (20.2 complaints per 1,000 people) and the fewest complaints received were from Newry, Mourne and Down Council (2.1 per 1,000 persons).
• There has been a 63.8% increase in the number of notices served this year compared to last year (344 served this year and 210 served in 2020/21). There were no prosecutions for the 2021/22 year, compared to two prosecutions in 2020/21 and four in 2019/20.
• The report’s findings show that the majority of complaints to councils concern the following types of noise:

- Domestic noise – 75.76%

- Commerce and Leisure – 10.72%

- Noise in the street – 5.34%

- Construction – 3.87%

- Industrial – 2.52%

- Transport – 1.80%

• The report also provides an insight into the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on noise complaints during this reporting year, with the relaxation of numerous restrictions only starting in April 2021 and continued working from home policies in place for many sectors in Northern Ireland.

Notes to editors: 

1. All queries regarding the statistics should be referred to the relevant district council.
2. DAERA collates the figures on the numbers of complaints which have been provided to it by the district councils.  Thus, the Department is not in a position to comment on trends or specific findings. 
3. The domestic noise sources most complained about in 2021/22 are music, televisions and parties which accounted for 45.92% of domestic noise complaints. Animal noise represents 34.45% and other neighbour noise was the cause of a further 15.16% of domestic noise complaints.
4. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office
5. Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook.
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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