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.
5. Island Communities Impact Assessment for the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland: Round 4 (2026)
Name of Policy, Strategy or Service: The Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland: Round 4 (2026)
Step One – Develop a clear understanding of your objectives
What are the objectives of the policy, strategy or service?
The Agglomerations Noise Action Plan 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 Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland, covers five agglomerations in Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow. The analysis of the Noise Map for Scotland enables the identification within the plan of candidate Noise Management Areas (to prevent and reduce environmental noise where possible) and candidate Quiet Areas (to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good).
Noise exposure levels have been mapped for Scotland and that information is made available to the public.
Do you need to consult?
A consultation on the draft Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland was held from 04 November to 31 December 2025.
How are islands identified for the purpose of the policy, strategy or service?
The strategic noise map for Scotland models noise population exposure across Scotland. The Agglomeration Noise Action Plan for Scotland is developed based on this map and where:
- An agglomeration is defined as urbanised areas with a population exceeding 100,000 inhabitants in an urbanised area with a population density equal to or greater than 500 people per km2.
- all major roads with more than 3 million vehicle passages per year.
- railways with more than 30,000 train passages per year.
Currently there are five agglomerations in Scotland, and the island communities do not meet the agglomeration threshold.
Is the policy, strategy or service new?
This is the fourth round of noise mapping and action plans. The previous three rounds have met the requirements of The Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (2006 Regulations).
Step Two – Gather your data and identify your stakeholders
What data is available about the current situation in the islands?
The noise maps that underpin the Agglomerations Action Plan map all roads and rail across Scotland. Specifically, this is the first time that the islands have been mapped for noise from roads, rail and industry.
Who are your key Stakeholders?
The key stakeholders for the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland are the local authorities within the specified agglomeration.
How does any existing data differ between islands?
The data used to create the noise maps is consistent across the whole of Scotland.
Are there any existing design features or mitigations in place?
The data used to create the noise maps is consistent across the whole of Scotland.
Step Three – Consultation
Who do you need to consult with?
The consultation of the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland was open to all, especially those with an interest in noise within the five agglomerations (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow).
How will you carry out your consultation and in what timescales?
A consultation on the draft Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland was held from 04 November to 31 December 2025.
What questions will you ask when considering how to address island realities?
The consultation questions on the draft Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland will be targeted to those within the five agglomerations (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow).
What information has already been gathered through consultations and what concerns have been raised previously by island communities?
Since 2006 there have been three previous rounds for noise maps and agglomeration action plans. No concerns have been raised by island communities.
Is your consultation robust and meaningful and sufficient to comply with the Section 7 duty?
Yes
Step Four– Assessment
Does your assessment identify any unique impacts on island communities?
No, as there are no agglomerations on the islands for which a noise action plan would be required.
Does your assessment identify any potential barriers or wider impacts?
Not applicable
How will you address these?
Not applicable
Is a full Island Communities Impact Assessment required?
You must now determine whether, in your opinion, your policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities).
If your answer is
If the answer is
To form your opinion, the following questions should be considered.
- Does the evidence show different circumstances or different expectations or needs, or different experiences or outcomes (such as different levels of satisfaction, or different rates of participation)?
- Are these different effects likely?
- Are these effects significantly different?
- Could the effect amount to a disadvantage for an island community compared to the mainland or between island groups
In preparing the ICIA, I have formed an opinion that our policy, strategy or service is NOT likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). The reason for this is detailed below.
A full Island Community Impact Assessment will not be required for the Agglomeration Noise Action Plan for Scotland, as the focus of the action plan will be on the identification and mitigation of noise exposure levels within the five agglomerations (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow) .
- An agglomeration is defined as urbanised areas with a population exceeding 100,000 inhabitants in an urbanised area with a population density equal to or greater than 500 people per km2.
- all major roads with more than 3 million vehicle passages per year.
- railways with more than 30,000 train passages per year.
Step Five – Preparing your ICIA
In Step Five, you should describe in the box below, the likely significantly different effect of the policy, strategy or service.
In Step Five, you should describe the likely significantly different effect of the policy, strategy or service.
- Assess the extent to which you consider that the policy, strategy or service can be developed or delivered in such a manner as to improve or mitigate, for island communities, the outcomes resulting from it.
- Consider alternative delivery mechanisms and whether further consultation is required.
- Describe how these alternative delivery mechanisms will improve or mitigate outcomes for island communities.
- Identify resources required to improve or mitigate outcomes for island communities.
An ICIA by Scottish Ministers in regard to legislation must:
- describe the likely significantly different effect of the legislation,
- assess the extent to which the Scottish Ministers consider that the legislation can be developed in such a manner as to improve or mitigate, for island communities, the outcomes resulting from the legislation, and
set out the financial implications of steps taken under this subsection to mitigate, for island communities, the outcomes resulting from the legislation
Not applicable.
Step Six – Making adjustments to your work
Should delivery mechanisms / mitigations vary in different island communities?
Do you need to consult with island communities in respect of mechanisms or mitigations?
Have island circumstances been factored into the evaluation process?
Have any island-specific indicators / targets been identified that require monitoring?
How will outcomes be measured on the islands?
How has the policy, strategy or service affected island communities?
How will lessons learned in this ICIA inform future policy making and service delivery?
The Agglomerations Noise Action Plan covers urbanised areas with a population in excess of 100,000 people and a population density equal to or greater than 500 people per km2 is met. No island communities meet this criteria.
Step Seven – Publishing your ICIA
Have you presented your ICIA in an Easy Read format?
This ICIA will be published using the guidelines required by APS.
Does it need to be presented in Gaelic or any other language?
No.
Where will you publish your ICIA and will relevant stakeholders be able to easily access it?
Publication of the ICIA will be alongside the other impact assessments for the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland.
Who will sign-off your final ICIA and why?
Deputy Director
ICIA completed by - Phil Leeks
Position - Senior Policy Manager
Signature and date - 12 February 2026
ICIA authorised by - Anne Aitken
Position - Deputy Director, Environmental Quality & Resilience Division
Signature and date - 17 February 2026