Construction

Construction working hours can be extended to aid safe working practices

Barbour EHS

Draft guidance has been set out to aid applicants seeking to extend construction site working hours introduced in the Business and Planning Bill, enabling changes to working hours to support safe construction working.

The guidance sets out considerations which local authorities must take into account in determining applications under this proposed new route.

The aim of the new temporary fast track deemed consent route under section 74B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is to enable urgent changes to construction working hours to support safe construction working, in line with the government’s latest social distancing guidance on construction and other outdoor work.

For many construction sites, implementation of this guidance will require changes to working practices, including staggered starts and finishes, requiring different hours of operation to those which are currently permitted for the site through planning conditions.

Applicants will need to provide details of:

• The planning permission to which the application relates;
• The existing agreed construction working hours;
• Details to identify the condition or approved document such as construction management plan which details the working hours;
• The proposed revised construction working hours;
• The date the revised construction working hours should take effect;
• The date on which the application is sent;
• The date on which the revised construction working hours should cease to have effect (no later than 1 April 2021).

To aid quick decision making, applicants should also provide:

• A short justification on why extended hours are necessary to enable safe working practices on site;
• A list of the primary construction activities, expected to take place during the extended working hours, including plant and equipment to be used;
• A proportionate assessment (where relevant) of the likely impact of noise upon sensitive uses near to the site (e.g. dwellings, hospitals and, care homes);
• Details of their mitigation plan as set out below.

Applications can only be made online.

 Click here to read the draft guidance can be found in full.            

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