The Impact of Road Traffic Noise on Housing Prices – Case Study in Poland

Abstract Noise as a form of environmental pollution negatively affects the attractiveness of residential areas. Its adverse effect is particularly noticeable in the vicinity of roads with high traffic volume. Along with the dynamic development of roads, the problem of the impact of traffic noise on the prices of residential real estate is now common. The purpose of this article was to determine the impact of road traffic noise from a busy route on residential property prices using strategic noise map (SNM) resources as a source of information on real estate. Housing estate was identified in the area of the Polish city of Bydgoszcz. Assuming that the prices of real estate reflect its characteristics, the article attempts to verify the following hypothesis: for residential premises located at Kujawska St., noise is a feature that reduces their price. SNM resources, statistical analyses and econometric modelling were used in the research. The studies show that housing prices vary with acoustic zones, but differences in prices in the areas surveyed are not statistically significant. In addition, the undertaken research has shown that SNM resources can be a source of information on real estate, especially in the context of environmental factors.