Our team

Martin Court

MIOA
Consultant

Education

Martin studied Applied Biology at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham before turning his attentions to the environment and public health, studying and completing the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Diploma in Environmental Health at the College of North East London. Further specialisation saw Martin successfully obtain the Institute of Acoustics Diploma (IOA) in Acoustics and Noise Control from Colchester Institute.

Work history

Martin has a wide ranging work history, from putting jelly into pork pies while earning some money at college through to crop trials and driving large agricultural vehicles while on a placement at DEFRA in Derbyshire.  After qualification with the CIEH, Martin joined Tendring District Council’s Environmental Health Department, working in the Pollution and Environment Team investigating nuisance complaints, including noise, and responding to general environmental matters, becoming lead officer for noise issues for the Council, dealing with major planning applications, drafting conditions for noise and environmental control.  He continued to investigate more complex nuisance issues, presenting information and evidence at planning appeals, public inquiries, committee meetings and Magistrate Court hearings.  He produced local codes of practice for construction site noise and outdoor music events, becoming more involved in planning, entertainment and licensing noise issues.  His interest and wealth of experience in noise led him to work on occasional projects for Sharps Redmore, where he now works as a consultant, specialising in environmental noise and planning.

Work experience

Martin has a sound scientific background and his further education in environmental health and noise gives him a thorough working knowledge, publishing a paper on the noise assessment of piling operations associated with an offshore wind farm construction in 2009. His local authority background together with his role as acoustic consultant gives him the experience of working, and looking at issues from both sides, enabling effective communication at all levels.  This is particularly beneficial to clients in planning applications, licensing issues and the implications of noise nuisance. He has a particular interest in entertainment noise and outdoor music events.

Plus

Outside of work, Martin enjoys a number of sports, more through enthusiasm than ability, but in particular loves both playing and watching cricket and is a regular at Oval test matches. He has taken to distance running over the last few years in the vain hope of slowing down the inevitable middle age decline and has recently completed 4 local half marathons. On a more sedate level, he enjoys playing guitar, listening to a wide range of music and attending live events whenever possible. A keen angler, weekends will often see him trying to tempt an elusive barbel from the local River Stour or spinning for bass off the Suffolk coast.