How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Swanley

Town in Kent, South East

We analysed 1,707 postcodes in and around Swanley, Kent against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 30% of them (505) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 70% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at DA14 6JR (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Swanley

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55-59 dB60-64 dB65-69 dB70-74 dB75 dB+Unshaded = below the mapping threshold or not modelled (not necessarily quiet).

How many postcodes are affected?

Road noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night16% (272)8% (140)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night11% (188)7% (117)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night2% (39)1% (20)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (6)<1% (4)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped70%84%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night<1% (6)<1% (8)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night<1% (4)<1% (2)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped99%99%

Share of the 1,707 postcodes within ~5 km of the Swanley centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Swanley

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: BR8 8TS · DA14 5JA · BR6 0JB · BR8 8TJ · DA14 5AP · DA14 6JR

What this data does — and doesn't — cover

  • Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
  • Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
  • No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
  • 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.

More detail on the methodology page.

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Nearby areas

Frequently asked questions

How noisy is Swanley?
We analysed 1,707 postcodes in and around Swanley, Kent against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 30% of them (505) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 70% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at DA14 6JR (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Swanley?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Swanley are DA14 6JR, BR6 0JB, DA14 5JA, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.