Construction & DIY Noise
Construction & DIY Noise
Construction Site noise
Noise from construction sites can be extremely intrusive. By their nature demolition and construction activities are noisy. Fortunately all activities such as these only last for a certain amount of time and so it is often a case of balancing a desire to get the work over and done with as quickly as possible against the need to protect people being affected by the noise as much as possible during the work.
In trying to achieve this we often write to developers who have submitted planning applications before they have even got planning consent. We point out what we consider to be appropriate methods of reducing noise from construction activities such as working hours and noise standards to be met. We also encourage them to liaise with the local community to try to ensure that everyone knows what is going on. It's amazing how much more tolerable a noise is when you know why it's being caused and how much longer it will go on for.
If construction sites do give rise to noise nuisance problems then we are often in a position of having to prove the existence of a nuisance and take statutory nuisance action under the Environmental Protection Act ( see Noise Nuisance ).
We do have powers under the Control of Pollution Act which can allow us to put specific restraints on construction and demolition activities such as working hours or the type of plant to use. However as with most forms of noise problems serving legal notices and going to court takes time, by the end of which the construction in question is usually complete and the problem has solved itself. For this reason we prefer, if at all possible , to reach an informal solution with the parties involved.
There are no hard and fast rules relating to what noise is permissible from a construction site. However when providing advice and considering enforcement action we look at the following;
Prior Consents
Developers can apply to the local authority for prior permission to undertake noisy work under section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act. Where the consent application is granted it exempts the applicant from any enforcement action under section 60 (Control of Noise on Construction Sites) of the same Act. Applications should be sent to env.health@charnwood.gov.uk
General noise control on construction sites
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Operational hours should be limited. We usually suggest 07.30 to 17.00 Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 12.00 Saturday with no work on Sundays and Bank Holidays |
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All equipment should meet EU noise emission standards |
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Reducing noise from very noisy activities should be considered in detail. E.g hydrualic or auger piling should be used rather than percussive piling |
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All equipment should be silenced and acoustic screens erected where possible |
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Neighbours should be advised well in advance of any particularly noisy activities. For bigger projects more formal liaison arrangements should be made to ensure effective communication with the local community |
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Site practices should meet BS 5228 which provides guidance on noise control on construction sites |
DIY Noise
Most people have jobs, which need doing around the home, especially if they have just moved in, or are redecorating. We have to accept that many people have jobs during the day and need to do DIY work in the evenings and at weekends.
However, this does not give them permission to annoy neighbours at all hours of the day and night or for the work to simply go on and on. We all have to be reasonable to live together.
In extreme cases DIY noise can constitute a statutory nuisance which the local council can deal with using powers under the Environmental Protection Act. More information is available about statutory nuisances in the noise nuisance section.
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