The fact that more than a third of us have moved home or considered it due to noise from outside is simply staggering

Thursday, 17 May 2018

One in six Britons says that noise pollution has forced them to move home, it has been revealed.

And there are growing fears that with so many people suffering from a disrupted night’s sleep, we are building up potential health problems for the future.

People who have suffered sleep disturbance say it can lead to mood swings, temper tantrums and an inability to concentrate properly, affecting their performance, confidence and general state of mind.

The extraordinary findings about noisy Britain have emerged following the publication of a study comprising 2,000 adults in the UK, which was conducted on behalf of Everest Home Improvements. It lifts the lid on the menace faced by the many people bombarded by noisy neighbours, anti-social behaviour, out-of-control pets and loud traffic noise.

One of the more startling facts is how many people feel they have no option but to pack-up and leave. Sixteen per cent of us have moved home because of noise disturbance, with another 5 per cent saying it’s something they’re considering at the moment due to their current circumstances. Another 14 per cent said they would have moved house if they could have due to noise pollution.

Equally worrying is the potential impact on health. Almost half of UK adults are losing sleep every week due to noise, leaving much of the nation feeling stressed and bad-tempered.

Commenting on the findings, psychologist and TV expert Emma Kenny said, “In the modern age, where life is fast paced and where the work-life balance can feel challenging, finding sanctuary is more important than ever. Noise disturbance is annoying at the best of times, but more importantly it can cause health issues when it interferes with our sleep patterns.

“Getting an uninterrupted and peaceful night’s sleep ensures we are physically and emotionally rested and allows our bodies to heal from the stresses and strains of modern day living. If the noise outside is affecting our ability to rest and relax, we are likely to experience a whole host of negative issues, including irritability, lack of focus and exhaustion, which can impact on every aspect of our life. That’s why it’s imperative to create a relaxing space, with as little noise pollution as possible.”

According to the research by Everest, 46 per cent of Brits are woken, or kept awake, at least once a week by noise from outside, with those affected being disrupted on average seventy nights a year.

Productivity levels are another key concern, with almost a quarter of respondents (24 per cent) saying they are less productive after their sleep has been disrupted and more than one in five (22 per cent) struggling to concentrate.

Despite the significant impact on their state of mind, just under a third (32 per cent) of respondents said they would step-in and complain. Many simply opted to wear earplugs (16 per cent) or drown out the outside noise by turning up their own TV or radio (13 per cent).

Martin Troughton, Marketing Director at Everest, comments, “While many of us will know from personal experience that a disturbed night’s sleep can have a detrimental impact on how we feel the next day, the scale of the issue identified through this research is something of a surprise. Almost half of the adults in this country are being affected by noise every week, which is having a huge influence on their mood and overall state of mind. The fact that more than a third of us have moved home or considered it due to noise from outside is simply staggering.

“Although over two thirds of those surveyed said they wouldn’t ask the person creating the disturbance to keep the noise down, there are other things they can do to mitigate the problem. Rather than going to the extreme lengths and cost of moving house, fitting sound-reducing products such as windows made with laminated acoustic glass will help to reduce the noise, as well as potentially improving the property’s energy efficiency and security.”

Everest’s new acoustic glazing has a special polymer layer sandwiched between two panes of glass, which interrupts sound waves to reduce noise pollution. In addition to its exceptional sound-reducing qualities, it has A+ rated thermal performance and is highly secure as the lamination process means the glass is virtually impossible to break.

The top five reasons why Britons are losing sleep:

1. Anti-social behaviour (16 per cent)
2. Neighbours (15 per cent)
3. Car or house alarms (14 per cent)
4. Road noise or traffic (13 per cent)
5. Other people’s pets (10 per cent)

Ends

Notes to editors:

The research:

The research for Everest was carried out online by Opinion Matters between 06/04/2018 and 11/04/2018 amongst a panel resulting in 2,000 UK adults aged 16+. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2014) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market and Social Research. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).

About Everest’s new acoustic glazing:

Available from May 2018, Everest’s new acoustic double and triple glazed windows have an A+ rated thermal performance and are more secure than other windows due to the lamination process, which means the glass is virtually impossible to break. The acoustic glazing also blocks 99% of UV rays, helping to reduce the fading and bleaching of furniture and other fabrics by the sun.
For more information on Everest’s new acoustic glazing, visit https://www.everest.co.uk/double-glazing-windows/acoustic-gl...

About Everest:

Everest has been at the forefront of innovation in the home improvement industry for over 50 years, offering an impressive range of high quality windows and doors in UPVC, aluminium and timber, as well as conservatories, orangeries and other home improvement products. With factories in Wales and South-East England, each Everest window is custom made and fitted to the exact millimetre. Its products are continuously tested to the latest security standards as well as a number of bespoke tests demonstrating thermal efficiency, strength and more, ensuring that the homes of Everest customers are some of the warmest, safest and most secure in the country.
www.everest.co.uk

About Emma Kenny:

Emma Kenny is a highly experienced presenter and professional, with psychological and counselling qualifications recognised by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and the British Psychological Society. She is a resident expert on ITV's This Morning and also appears regularly on Good Morning Britain.
www.ekenny.co.uk

For further information, contact:

JGMPR
07885 270349