Over 11,600 noise complaints to North East councils

Data collected by the Local Democracy Reporting Service through the freedom of information act has revealed that 11,624 noise complaints were logged to councils in 2025. In terms of the raw number of complaints, Durham County Council recorded 3,405, Newcastle City Council 2,680, and Gateshead Council 1,502. 

The postcodes with the most noise complaints in 2025 by council area are as follows: 

• Newcastle – NE6: 426
• Durham – SR8: 407
• Gateshead – NE8: 346

Councils have to examine noise complaints that could be what is legally known as a  ‘statutory nuisance’. To qualify, noise must significantly interfere with the “use or enjoyment” of a house or other premises or have the potential to adversely affect someone’s health. 

In certain cases, local authorities can issue abatement notices over noise complaints compelling those responsible to stop. Breaching such orders can lead to fines or prosecutions and even noise generating equipment being sized. 

The breakdown of complaints by postcode or electoral ward per each regional authority is as follows: 

Durham County Council: 

• DL4: 121
• DL5: 238
• DL12: 35
• DL13: 50
• DL14: 270
• DL15: 144
• DL16: 135
• DL17: 171
• DH1: 236
• DH2: 159
• DH3: 69
• DH4: 34
• DH6: 209
• DH7: 221
• DH8: 216
• DH9: 243
• SR7: 177
• SR8: 407
• NE16: 26
• NE17: 4
• TS21: 57
• TS27: 54
• TS28: 44
• TS29: 48
• No Postcode recorded: 37
• Total: 3405

Owen Cleugh, Durham County Council’s safer places manager, said: “County Durham is the largest local authority area in the North East, serving over half a million residents and home to over 14,000 businesses. Therefore, figures for the county can be higher than smaller authority areas.

“We investigate any complaints we receive and work closely with all parties to identify a solution. In the vast majority of our cases, we are able to resolve the matter without needing to take formal action.”

Newcastle City Council: 

• NE1: 150
• NE2: 398
• NE3: 228
• NE4: 390
• NE5: 320
• NE6: 426
• NE7: 56
• NE13: 45
• NE15: 182
• Blanks: 480
• Out of Area: 5
• Total: 2680

A council spokesperson said: “The vast majority of complaints relate to residential homes, commercial properties and public events and include things like barking dogs, construction work, and house parties to name a few. We work with the police and social housing providers to resolve complaints.

“In most cases we advise the complainant to speak to their neighbour which tends to resolve the issue, however we can and do step in when this is not enough.

“We ask complainants to keep a log of noise activity as we can only act on evidence. We use specialist equipment to gather data to ascertain if a nuisance exists. If it does, we have a range of actions at our disposal ranging from sending a letter to visiting a property.”

“Anyone who wishes to report a noise complaint can do so via the council’s website https://new.newcastle.gov.uk/complaints-compliments or ring 0191 2787878.”

Gateshead Council: 

• DH2: 1
• DH3: 112
• NE10: 306
• NE11: 109
• NE12: 1
• NE16: 88
• NE17: 43
• NE21: 102
• NE39: 56
• NE40: 102
• NE8: 346
• NE9: 231
• UNKNOWN: 5
• Total: 1502 

Gateshead Council was approached for comment. 

*Sunderland City Council: 

• SR4: 132
• SR2: 118
• DH4: 108
• SR5: 100
• SR3: 84
• NE38: 77
• NE37: 68
• SR6: 57
• DH5: 46
• SR1: 19
• NE9: 7
• No postcode: 209
• Grand total: 1025

*Sunderland City Council could not break down the figures for domestic complaints prior to April 2025 by postcode. The data for household complaints is from 01/04/2025 to 31/12/2025. 

South Tyneside Council: 

• NE31: 112
• NE32: 131
• NE33: 261
• NE34: 239
• NE35: 40
• NE36: 11
• SR6: 28
• Total: 822

* North Tyneside Council: 

• Chirton and Percy Main: 96
• North Shields: 82
• Wallsend Central: 70
• Howdon: 56
• Longbenton and Benton: 46
• Whitley Bay North: 42
• Camperdown: 35
• Preston with Preston Grange: 33
• Tynemouth: 33
• Wallsend North: 33
• Shiremoor: 32
• New York and Murton: 32
• Backworth and Holystone: 26
• Weetslade: 26
• Forest Hall: 24
• Monkseaton: 17
• Battle Hill: 17
• Cullercoats and Whitley Bay South: 17
• Killingworth: 13
• St Mary’s: 4
• Total: 734

*North Tyneside Council was unable to break down noise complaints by postcode. 

Northumberland County Council: 

• CA8: 2
• DH8: 1
• NE13: 1
• NE15: 8
• NE17: 1
• NE18: 3
• NE20: 24
• NE22: 103
• NE23: 151
• NE24: 219
• NE25: 64
• NE26: 16
• NE41: 6
• NE42: 22
• NE43: 7
• NE45: 5
• NE46: 33
• NE47: 4
• NE48: 5
• NE49: 9
• NE61: 87
• NE62: 48
• NE63: 146
• NE64: 34
• NE65: 73
• NE66: 57
• NE67: 3
• NE68: 4
• NE69: 1
• NE70: 2
• NE71: 8
• TD15: 55
• Not recorded: 254
• Total: 1,456