Deadline for submission of applications: 24th November 2024 @ 15:00hrs
The placement will provide an opportunity to play a key role in the development of a road map to protect and enhance soundscapes in Wales. It will do this by identifying actions that the Welsh Government needs to take to support public bodies to meet their obligations. It will provide an opportunity to play and integral role in policy and behaviour change across Welsh communities.
Noise and Soundscapes is an exciting and innovative sector which promotes the protection, modernisation and innovative development of soundscapes in Wales. A healthy sound environment is more than simply the absence of unwanted sounds, and noise management must have a broader focus than simply reducing the decibels. The cities, towns and villages in which people live serve a variety of purposes, and should contain a variety of sound environments appropriate to the time and place. There should not be a one-size-fits-all sound environment, which is experienced everywhere, any more than every street and building should look alike.
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act received Royal Assent in February 2024. It introduced legislative obligations for noise and soundscapes management, a world leading move which recognises our commitment to protecting and improving the soundscapes of Wales.
The Welsh Government’s Noise and Soundscape Action Plan sets out our national strategy for soundscapes, including our expectations for public bodies in relation to this area of work. Soundscape approaches are an emerging discipline, but one that is very much in keeping with the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Our goal is to work with partners to deliver appropriate soundscapes, meaning the right sound environment in the right time and place.
The International Organisation for Standardization’s ISO 12913 series of soundscape standards, adopted into British Standards by the British Standards Institution (BSI), defines soundscape to mean the acoustic (i.e. sound) environment as perceived or experienced and/or understood by a person or people, in context. This poses a complex challenge, as the perception of noise varies greatly between people and the wider environment.
However, we know as our understanding develops, that there is no one-size fits all approach to acceptable and unacceptable noise. As we become more aware of the individual needs of ourselves and people within our communities, we develop a greater understanding of the adverse effects of assuming a blanket criterion for determining whether noise types, levels and environments are acceptable or not.
In order to implement the soundscapes elements of the Act, a greater understanding of public bodies’ current levels of skills and expertise in soundscapes is vital. To do this, the post-holder will be expected to undertake the following tasks:
- Engage with local authorities and other relevant public bodies to identify what gaps they lack to implement effective soundscapes planning and delivery across public bodies
- Identify how public bodies will embed soundscapes in their work (ie. noise complaints and reviews, planning teams, environmental health teams)
- Produce an outline of skills gaps across public bodies in Wales, including the consequences and risks attributed to not addressing these.
- Provide a proposal for an ongoing programme of work to address skills gaps, and priorities for doing so.
For further information about the placement and details of the application requirements please download the following document: