IES welcomes CIEH ‘Sound Thinking’ report

The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) welcomes the publication of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health’s (CIEH) new Sound Thinking report, which highlights the need for a more consistent, strategic approach to tackling environmental noise.

Published yesterday at CIEH’s Noise Management Conference, the report builds on the findings of CIEH’s Noise Complaint Data Briefing (pdf), published in March 2026. Drawing on local authority noise complaint data alongside new polling of more than 2,100 adults in England and Wales, Sound Thinking examines how noise is experienced, recorded, and managed, and sets out nine recommendations for government and other decision makers.

A central message is the need to address the fragmented way in which noise complaints are currently recorded across local authorities. CIEH calls for nationally consistent coding categories, better mechanisms for identifying emerging sources of noise, improved digital reporting and greater consideration of the resources available to environmental health services.

Ellie Savage, IES Policy Lead and Noise Action Week Coordinator, said:

“Sound Thinking provides a timely and much-needed look at how environmental noise is recorded and tackled by Environmental Health teams, and sets out a clear case for modernising our approach.

As the report makes clear, at present we have a fragmented and incomplete picture of noise complaints across local authorities, limiting our ability to understand trends, identify emerging sources and make the case for the resources needed to tackle noise effectively. Crucially, fewer recorded complaints do not necessarily mean less noise harm. We need better and more consistent data, including consistent national coding, to understand the true scale of the problem and support better action.

Most importantly, Sound Thinking reinforces the need for treating noise not simply as a nuisance, but as an environmental and public health issue that needs a more strategic, evidence-based response."
 

The report provides an important foundation for the next stage of work to strengthen the UK's approach to noise. Its findings will help inform planning for Noise Action Week 2027, which will formally get underway at the EPIC Conference on 8th October.

The IES is also planning a series of joint policy workshops with CIEH, the Institute of Acoustics (IoA) and the UK Noise Association (UKNA) this autumn. Bringing together expertise from across the environmental health, acoustics and environmental sectors, the workshops will explore the key policy challenges facing noise management and aim to develop a joint policy report and recommendations for the UK Government.

The IES looks forward to continuing to work with CIEH and our partners to ensure that noise receives the attention it deserves as an environmental and public health issue.

Image credit: Dragana Gordic via Adobe Stock