M23 road noise: how it affects nearby properties
The M23 is the main route to Gatwick Airport, and its traffic pattern is shaped by airport access — with strong flows through the day and notable early-morning and late-evening activity. For homes near the M23, the combination of road noise and proximity to Gatwick flight paths can mean more than one noise source is worth checking.
Traffic on the M23
Around 90,000–110,000 vehicles a day, with pronounced peaks linked to Gatwick Airport traffic. Traffic volume, HGV proportion and speed all influence how much noise reaches nearby homes. As a motorway, the M23 carries sustained high-speed traffic day and night, so night-time levels are often the key concern.
Areas near the M23
Passing through: Surrey · West Sussex.
Residential areas in Crawley, Horley and Redhill sit close to the route, and some properties fall within range of both the motorway and airport-related noise. AcoustaPlot flags aircraft-noise proximity separately from road noise, so M23-area buyers get a clearer picture of which source — or combination — is likely to affect a specific address.
How AcoustaPLOT assesses M23 noise for your property
AcoustaPLOT geocodes your property, identifies the nearest carriageway of the M23, and estimates the daytime (Lden) and night-time (Lnight) levels at your facade — reading Defra's mapped value where available, or calculating it from DfT traffic data with real elevation data elsewhere.
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M23 noise: common questions
How much noise does the M23 make?
It depends on your distance from the carriageway, the traffic flow and the terrain in between. Around 90,000–110,000 vehicles a day, with pronounced peaks linked to Gatwick Airport traffic AcoustaPLOT estimates the daytime and night-time level at your specific facade rather than quoting a single figure for the whole road.
Can a fence or barrier reduce M23 noise?
Often, yes. A well-placed barrier breaks the line of sight to the traffic and forces the sound to bend over the top, which costs it energy (insertion loss, per ISO 9613-2). Height, length and position all matter — the first two metres usually do most of the work.
Is a property near the M23 a bad buy?
Not necessarily — exposure varies enormously over a short distance, and terrain or existing screening can make a big difference. The only way to know is to check the exact address rather than the road as a whole.