Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland: impact assessments 2026
A report detailing the screening exercises undertaken for required impact assessments for the publication of the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland.
3. Equality Impact Assessment for the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland: Round 4 (2026)
Title of policy: Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland
Summary of aims and desired outcomes of Policy: Identification and management of areas of excessive noise
Directorate: Enfor
Division: Environmental Quality and Resilience Division
Team: Environmental Protection Team
Executive summary
The Agglomerations Noise Action Plans for Scotland: Round 4 (2026), sets out actions for the Scottish Government and local authorities support noise management within five specified agglomerations, with a focus on potential areas of high noise levels (e.g. from road and rail sources).
This plan seeks to prevent and reduce environmental noise where necessary and particularly where exposure levels can induce harmful effects on human health and to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good.
This EQIA notes that the impact of the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan on equality is limited and it does not impose any additional impacts on any individuals falling within any of the current protected characteristics when compared to the existing policy.
To ensure that impacts on different groups and / or communities can be considered within this EQIA, an 8-week public consultation was undertaken seeking comments on the draft Agglomerations Noise Action Plan.
The implementation of the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan could see local authorities introduce more noise mitigation measures, delivering reductions in noise levels / exposure for everyone in these areas, no impacts have been identified separately for people with protected characteristics.
The Scottish Government has established a Noise Mapping working group that will oversee the progress being made against the Noise Action Plan. Noise mapping and the associated Agglomerations Noise Action Plan are required to be produced every five years. This ensures an ongoing cycle of monitoring and evaluation.
Based on the information provided in this EQIA it has been determined that an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) is not required for the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan.
Background
The Agglomerations Noise Action Plans for Scotland: Round 4 (2026), sets out actions for the Scottish Government and local authorities to support noise management within five specified agglomerations, with a focus on potential areas of high noise levels (e.g. from road and rail sources).
The five agglomerations are Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow. An agglomeration is defined as an area with more than 100,000 inhabitants (people living in an area) in an urbanised area (a place where lots of people live close together) with a population density equal to or greater than 500 people per km2.
The analysis of the Noise Map for Scotland enables the identification within the plan for candidate Noise Management Areas (to prevent and reduce environmental noise where necessary and in particular where exposure levels can induce harmful effects on human health) and candidate Quiet Areas (to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good).
The Scope of the EQIA
The Agglomerations Noise Action Plan is aimed at identifying potential areas of high noise levels, and sets out actions for the Scottish Government and local authorities to support noise management within five specified agglomerations. As such, any reduction in noise levels will have the benefit to reducing disturbance regardless of protected characteristic.
Key Findings
Any noise mitigation measures will have a positive impact on the people in the vicinity. The noise mapping process does not include data on protected characteristics. The focus is on mitigation measures for areas with the highest levels of noise exposure and population density, and on general noise mitigation measures in local authorities' areas (for example 20 mph speed limits). The Agglomerations Noise Action Plan is neutral on people with protected characteristics and will have no effect on: eliminating unlawful discrimination; advancing equality of opportunity; and promoting good relations. The aim of the action plan is to identify and manage areas of excessive noise in an agglomeration.
Recommendations and Conclusion
The impact of the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan on equality is limited and it does not impose any additional impacts on any individuals falling within any of the current protected characteristics when compared to the existing policy. Therefore, a full Equalities Impact Assessment is not considered necessary.