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. Government do not consider it appropriate to specify permitted hours for construction works in national law, believing decisions around managing noise are best taken by local authorities using their knowledge of the specific context. Rebecca Pow added that the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework state that planning policies and decisions should mitigate and reduce to a minimum potential adverse impacts resulting from noise from new development – and avoid noise giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and the quality of life.
