Hurst Green, Swiftsden, and Silver Hill are among the only communities on the A21 strategic road network in East Sussex are directly alongside thousands of cars and lorries every day. Even with a 30mph limit, the constant road noise is a major burden on residents’ health, sleep, and well‑being.
Reform UK is deeply concerned that National Highways (formerly Highways England) continues to resurface the A21 through these villages with cheap, short‑life “skim” treatments that do little to reduce noise – despite well-established, low-noise surfacing technologies existing in the market.
There are proven, low-noise asphalt solutions in use around the world and even here in the UK. For instance, Tarmac’s Ultiflex, a tarmac specifically designed to reduce road noise. In a case study in Hillingdon, this resulted in a noise reduction of around 6–7 dB.
According to the UK Design Manual for Roads & Bridges (DMRB), low-noise surfaces can be specified via the Highways Authorities Product Approval Scheme (HAPAS), using a metric called Road Surface Influence (RSI) to assess noise performance.
Where National Highways Falls Short
National Highways’ own noise policy states that they do install low-noise surfacing on new roads and occasionally on resurfacing, but only in certain Noise Important Areas (NIAs) under their Designated Fund.
Their prioritisation criteria means that not all affected communities benefit. NIAs must meet stringent thresholds (e.g., a minimum number of households, predicted dB benefit) to be eligible for resurfacing funding.
Because of the way resurfacing is contracted, local oversight and acoustic ambition are too often limited, resulting in repeated “skim and patch” maintenance rather than long-term low-noise surfacing.
Meanwhile, more ambitious noise mitigation schemes compete for the same limited “Designated Fund.”
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has raised concerns about the pace of National Highways’ noise mitigation: in its assessments, it called for an acceleration of resurfacing with lower-noise materials.
Reform UK’s Policy Solution
Here’s what Reform UK would do if in power, to force meaningful change and relieve residents of the A21 corridor in Hurst Green, Swiftsden, and Silver Hill:
Mandate Low‑Noise Surfacing
Require National Highways to use HAPAS‑approved, low-noise materials, such as Tarmac’s Ultiflex or grooved quiet‑concrete solutions on all significant resurfacing of the A21 through these villages, not just standard “skim and patch.”
Set a minimum acoustic performance standard tied to RSI values or measured decibel reductions, and make sure these standards are maintained over the life of the surface, not just immediately after laying.
Long-Lifespan Materials, Not Short-Term Fixes
- Prioritise durable treatments (e.g., grooved concrete, thin polymer asphalt) that reduce the need for frequent maintenance and repeated disruption. The UK trial of quiet concrete suggests 10–15 years’ life for some treatments.
- Ring-fence a portion of National Highways’ Designated Fund specifically for resurfacing-based noise mitigation, especially for NIAs where communities are chronically affected.
Transparent Contracts & Accountability
Reform UK would insist that future National Highways maintenance contracts explicitly require low-noise surfacing in sensitive areas, rather than leaving it optional or dependent on local funding bids.
Asset managers at National Highways must evaluate resurfacing schemes not just on pavement life and cost, but on acoustic benefit per household.
Community Engagement & Monitoring
Launch a local consultation programme in Hurst Green, Swiftsden, and Silver Hill, so residents help identify which stretches of road most urgently need low-noise resurfacing.
After resurfacing, require independent noise surveys (pre‑ and post‑works) to verify that acoustic improvements meet the agreed standard.
Publish a noise mitigation plan, tailored to the A21 in these communities, with clear timelines, budgets, and accountability mechanisms.
Annual Reporting & Transparency
Under Reform UK, National Highways would be required to produce an annual noise‑mitigation performance report, specifically disclosing: how many miles of “noise‑critical” road have been resurfaced with low-noise materials, what the measured reductions are, and how much of the Designated Fund has been spent.
East Sussex County Council (or local highways authority) would be empowered to lobby and enforce these resurfacing standards within their stretch of the A21, ensuring that contractual obligations aren’t just promises.
The Impact
Residents in Hurst Green, Swiftsden, and Silver Hill would experience a real and lasting reduction in traffic noise, improving sleep, health, and quality of life.
Using long-life surfacing reduces the frequency (and disruption) of maintenance works, offering better value for money in the long term.
Reform UK’s policy would demonstrate that infrastructure investment should not only serve transport needs, but protect local communities with concrete, measurable environmental outcomes.
