Construction & Pollution Control: Noise & Dust,
Information and Advice
The authority monitors construction activities to minimise
pollution caused by noise, dust and other nuisances.
Construction sites are in the open and are often near existing
residential accommodation. Residents will in general accept
construction site noise but will complain if work starts early or
finishes late or if it takes place on a Saturday afternoon, Sundays
or Bank Holidays. Complaints about noise from construction sites
are investigated by the Councils Environmental Health staff.
If you are intending to carry out construction works, please
contact
us.
For construction works, the following advice should be
considered as part of pre-planning:
Tell the Council and the neighbours
- Give the Council at least 6 weeks notice of construction work
prior to commencement. The Council may impose some conditions about
how the work should be done.
- Send a letter to the neighbours before the work starts, telling
them about the work and what to expect.
- Give the neighbours a contact name and telephone number and
keep them informed of the progress of your works.
- Respond and deal properly with complaints received on
site.
Keep dust, noise and smoke to a minimum
Dust: Keep dust down by spraying with water
when and where you can. On large developments, consider
employing a wheel washing facility or road sweepers to minimise the
transfer of dist form the construction site to the local road
network.
Noise: The Council normally restricts the hours
of operation heavy plant and machinery of major demolition and
construction works within residential locations to between:- 08.00
- 18.00 Mondays to Fridays and 08.30 -13.00 Saturdays with no such
works carried out on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Exceptions to the hours stated above are considered on their
merits such as emergencies and essential works where it is not
practical for them to be carried out at any other time.
Particularly noisy operations, for example pile driving which
may need more stringent controls. Pumps and generators should not
be left running overnight if they can be heard outside the
site.
If you are a householder doing some or all of the work yourself,
try to avoid causing any noise or dust in the evenings or on
Sundays or Bank Holidays.
If noise problems occur (i.e. unacceptable noise levels are
experienced by your neighbours), the Council and your neighbours
can take legal action. If you think that your work may cause a
significant nuisance to your neighbours from noise or vibration,
you should discuss the works with the Council, who will allow a
certain level of noise to occur at reasonable times.
Obstruction and damage to pavements
- Do not let vehicles or materials block or damage the
pavements.
- Do not leave obstacles, holes or trenches where they are a
danger, especially to disabled people (eg the blind).
- The Council may charge you for any damage caused to pavements,
kerbs or verges by Lorries or heavy plant.
Back to Construction & Pollution Control
>>
TOP