The IOA have submitted a response to the UK Government consultation on revised draft National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure.  Government state this is part of work aimed at strengthening and speeding up the planning process, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment and ensuring local views are accounted for. The policy covers England and Wales.

Following the success of the 2021 Secondary School competition, the IOA organised a Primary School Competition for children in 2022.  The IOA is running both Primary Schools and Secondary Schools competitions again this year.

The IOA Medals and Awards Lunch was held on Wednesday 19 April 2023 at the Oval.

It was held so that we could catch up on all the awards that the IOA couldn’t present during the pandemic.

List of awards presented in April 2023:

Best IOA Diploma Performance 2019 – Irene Rodriques 

Best IOA Diploma Performance 2022 – Daniel Robinson 

The Award for Distinguished Services to the Institute

2020 – Hilary Notley

2023 – Chris Barlow

Noise was once again a subject for discussion in the House of Lords this week, as Defra gave evidence to the enquiry on the impacts of noise on health.  In the final evidence session held on Tuesday, Rebecca Pow MP, Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience, Dr Bill Parish, Deputy Director for Air Quality and Industrial Emissions and Defra officials answered questions from Lords Science and Technology Committee.

As part of their programme of reviewing national infrastructure planning in England, the government are consulting on national a revised national networks national policy statement (NNNPS).  This covers strategic road and rail networks and strategic rail freight interchanges, and updates the current NNNPS which was published in 2014. The new draft policy includes a section on noise and vibration, which acknowledges the wide ranging impacts excessive noise can have on quality of life and health, the enjoyment of quiet places and areas of high landscape quality.

In answer to a question by Labour MP Jess Phillips last week, Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs Rebecca Pow has clarified laws in place covering noise from construction. She stated that the Control of Pollution Act 1974 enables local authorities to serve a notice imposing requirements on construction or demolition works, including working hours. Generally, local authorities require construction work to be carried out between the hours of 8am and 6pm on Monday-Friday, and 8am-1pm on Saturdays, with no working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Springpod & the IOA have partnered up to provide a programme that explores careers, specialisms and opportunities available to Y10 - 13 in acoustics. 

This programme covers everything from an introduction to the different areas of acoustics, to how roles in acoustics can make a significant impact in different areas of our lives. Attendees have the chance to take part in some great quizzes and amazing activities, and hear from leading industry experts! 

This week the IOA gave evidence to the Welsh Parliament, answering questions from the Climate Change, Environment & Infrastructure Committee in relation to the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscape) (Wales) Bill.  Questions covered the substance of the draft Bill, including the impact of green infrastructure on soundscape.  Immediate past president Stephen Turner, Welsh Branch chair Rosie Pitt and chair of Parliamentary Liaison Group Peter Rogers attended the online sesion and fielded questions from committee members.