The ENNAH project (The European Network on Noise and Health) was funded by the European Union's 7th Framework Program (FP7‐ENV‐2008‐1, project no.226442) to establish a research network of experts on noise and health in Europe. The network brought together 33 European research centres from 16 countries to establish future research directions and policy needs for noise and health in Europe. ENNAH focused on the study of environmental noise sources, in particular transport noise. This network facilitated high level scientific communication and encouraged productive interdisciplinary discussion and exchange through a series of workshops and reports. The ENNAH Network has identified gaps in noise and health research while at the same time assessing, prioritizing and integrating the future research orientation into policy development for a more efficient investment of resources in this research area. Noise maps produced under the direction of the Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) are potentially a very useful resource for noise and health research. We have reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of current noise maps and recommended changes that would make them more appropriate for public health research purposes. We have also considered possible new methods for acoustic measurement and modelling which will help to develop innovative exposure measurement techniques in future noise and health studies.