Abstract
In common with many other countries, the UK did not until recently place any monetary value on noise when considering alternative transport policies. This paper describes the approach taken to developing willingness-to-pay based values for noise costs (and benefits) at residential locations, drawing on primary research in the UK and a review of international evidence. The values were introduced into transport appraisal in 2006, and the paper considers the challenges of integrating noise valuation into appraisal, and international comparisons between the resulting UK official values and values used elsewhere. The experience may be useful for other countries considering introducing or revising noise costs in appraisal, and raises research issues over measurement methods, valuation at high noise levels, the threshold level for any significant willingness-to-pay, the relative noise costs of different transport modes, and the role of residential noise in a person's overall noise exposure and response.