Construction, demolition and street works

If no-one is disturbed by noisy works or if work is not noisy, then extended hours or even 24 hour working can take place. Where residents or businesses are likely to be disturbed then time restrictions or noise, requirements to minimise impacts will usually apply.

If residents are likely to be disturbed by noise, the permitted times of operation, including ancillary activities such as deliveries, will be restricted to standard hours:

8am - 6pm (Monday to Friday);
9am - 2pm (Saturday);
No working is permitted on Sundays, bank holidays or other national holidays.
If businesses are likely to be disturbed by noise during the standard hours or if justified complaints from businesses are received, the permitted times of operation, may be further restricted during city quiet hours:

10am - 12noon (Monday to Friday);
2pm - 4pm (Monday to Friday).
Businesses relying on lunchtime trade may also be protected from excessive noise.

During city reduced impact hours, noise generating activities, eg percussive breakers, cutting using power tools and noisy machinery, will not usually be permitted. Hours may also be adjusted for retail businesses relying on lunchtime trade.

Works proposed outside the standard hours or during City reduced impact hours, can be undertaken with the written prior approval from the Pollution Control Team, which may be subject to conditions.

Applications for approval must be made a minimum of five (5) working days prior to work commencing. Download and complete an application form: site hours variation request sheet and submit it to Public Protection team, or contact the Pollution Control Team directly for advice.

In certain locations in the City, where noisy street works are proposed, no formal prior consent is required for noisy works between 6.00pm and 11.00pm. Please see the Department of Built Environment for further details of the ‘extended hours permitting’ scheme.​

The scope of the Scheme and extent of liaison will be site dependent, having regard to the scale of works and the potential for disruption to neighbours. Detailed guidance on determining site ‘risk’ category and the resulting liaison expectations for projects are provided in, Code of Practice: Minimising the Environmental Impact of Streetworks.

Minor works (1-3 days): 24 Hours (1 working day) verbal prior notice to premises occupiers likely to be disturbed; effective complaints procedure, information display board with contact information.
Standard / Major Works (4-10 >10 days): 3 working days written prior notice to premises occupiers likely to be disturbed; effective complaints procedure; display board; for Major works a liaison and consultation plan required.
For work outside standard or reduced impact hours – liaison to be agreed as part of prior approval process.
Premises occupiers to be notified: this will depend on the location and time of works, type of noisy activity, sensitivity of noise receptors, duration of work, location of windows or doors within building facades and whether these are opened frequently, and the internal layout of receptor’s premises. The impact will vary according to each site and job and therefore will need to be individually assessed to determine the extent of liaison required.
For most types of noisy street work, liaison should take place with all premises occupiers who are within 50m and conduct activities which could be disturbed by intended works; building reception areas, lunch time retail premises, residential premises and medical / therapy settings may be particularly sensitive.
Where works are proposed to be carried out outside ‘standard’ or ‘reduced impact hours’ the above liaison arrangements may not apply and arrangements will need to be reassessed and agreed with the Pollution Team as part of the prior approval (‘Variation’) process.
City of London Pollution Team can be contacted to provide advice and local knowledge.

Prior to any activity commencing which requires mobile cranes or mobile plant, a mobile crane authorisation notice must be completed and forwarded to the Pollution Control Team for approval BEFORE the ‘traffic appointment’ is held with the City of London Highways team.

The ‘Scheme of Protective Works’ submitted to protect neighbours should include the identification of activities which could adversely affect air quality.

This assessment should include a methodology laying out details of, and controls over, all relevant activities which may affect air quality.

The scheme should consider the entire lifetime of the project and sequence of works, and consider details to minimise the site’s impact on air quality such as vehicle type and movements, the water supply for the site (for dust mitigation), plans to deal with debris and specific areas to be encapsulated etc.

To reduce air pollution in the City, the construction and deconstruction industry is expected to employ, as a minimum, all methods listed below. The requirements are in line with the Greater London Authority and London Councils Best Practice Guide for Controlling Dust and Emissions from Construction and Demolition, November 2006 (soon to be revised, at which time, regard should be had to the newest document).

Ensuring that fumes and/or dust do not escape from the site to affect members of the public and the surrounding environment;
Burning of materials on site is not permitted under any circumstances;
Dusty activity should be undertaken away from sensitive receptors, with wind direction taken into consideration;
The site should be regularly inspected for spillages of cement and other powders which should be removed to prevent off-site deposition;
Dusty material and activities should be dampened down in dry weather. The use of groundwater should be investigated and water should be reused wherever possible.
All sites should be screened / wrapped to prevent offsite dust deposition;
Rubber chutes should be used and drop heights minimised;
Scabbling should be done off site and will not generally be allowed in the City due to the amount of dust generated;
Off-site fabrication, or cutting to size, shall be employed to avoid cutting materials on site whenever possible; and
Careful consideration should be given to the location and temperature control of tar and asphalt burners.
All Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) should meet Stage IIIB emission criteria, unless it can be demonstrated that Stage IIIB equipment is not available. If Stage IIIB equipment is not available, NRMM must be fitted with particle traps and / or catalytic exhaust treatment wherever possible. An inventory of all NRMM must be kept on site and all machinery should be regularly serviced and service logs kept on site for inspection. Records should be kept on site which details proof of emission limits for all equipment.

The use of generators to provide electricity on site should be avoided wherever possible.

Further details are contained in the City Construction code of practice .