Urban parks as nature-based solutions for improved well-being under the flight paths: A soundscape analysis in the vicinity of Heathrow Airport

In the light of inconclusive evidence on the effectiveness of noise protection measures, new strategies are needed to tackle health risks of increasing air traffic. Noise-related health issues are a result of the complex interplay between noise exposure, coping strategies and sound perception, which might be in turn influenced by environmental quality and neighbourhood satisfaction. Thus, the conventional approach of primarily reducing noise levels does not automatically lead to improved well-being and quality of life for affected people. Nature-based solutions, including trees, parks and other tranquil areas, are increasingly being recognised as health-promoting and sustainable forms of noise mitigation in growing cities, as highlighted by the EU Environmental Noise Directive.

Apart from its ability of physically reducing sound pressure levels, the potentials of vegetation as a psychological buffer through reduction of stress and mental fatigue need to be further investigated. A multisensory approach in communities around London Heathrow Airport explored how acoustic and visual factors affect cognitive and behavioural responses to aircraft noise. Since the interplay of different senses appears to be an important moderator of sound perception, self-rated measures of psychological stressors and resources were combined with objective evaluations of visual and acoustic environmental quality.

High-quality neighbourhoods were associated with (i) lower general noise annoyance, (ii) fewer noise-disturbed outdoor activities, (iii) higher satisfaction with the residential area, and (iv) better opportunities for recreational coping. Particularly high-quality green spaces appeared to reduce stress and refresh concentration capacity by enabling noise-exposed residents to shift from effortful (e.g. focusing on aircraft noise) to effortless (e.g. experiencing tranquillity) attention, thus potentially enhancing well-being. Nature sounds, such as sounds of birds, wind and water, had limited capacity for reducing perceived outdoor sound levels. Yet, their main potentials in improving a soundscape lay in their intrinsic ability to promote relaxation and tranquillity, which might in turn reduce perceived noise exposure in the longer term.

Shifting the research interest towards the question of how to achieve desirable soundscapes and neighbourhoods rather than just finding ways to technically eliminate noise, this soundscape study provides an insightful starting point for creating healthier environments in the vicinity of airports. Demonstrating the potential of tranquil urban green spaces as compensation strategies in neighbourhoods affected by aircraft noise might support residents to adopt active and health-enhancing coping strategies, and therefore generate wider spill-over effects on satisfaction, restoration, well-being, and quality of life among communities living under the flight paths. This will help build strategic alliances between health promotion, noise mitigation, and sustainable urban planning.