Building work, DIY and Section 61 Application Forms

Building sites

The noise team are responsible for controlling the working hours of building sites and building contractors. We try to ensure that noisy building work is restricted to these hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm
• Saturday: 8am - 1pm

This does not apply to emergencies such as power failures/gas leaks/water leaks and certain concreting activities etc.

Builders that undertake noisy work outside of these hours may be liable for prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000.

Commercial businesses are sometimes disrupted by the particular noisy and drawn out aspects of building work, such as demolition. It is quite normal for office managers and similar to approach building site managers and negotiate some respite from the noisiest of activities during the working day, possibly 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.

In extreme cases where such negotiations have broken down, the council may impose restrictions on the times that the noisiest works, such as pneumatic drilling, can take place. It is a balance of the needs of the commercial businesses and the buiding sites and each case will be looked at on its own merits.

Any restrictions imposed (either locally or by the council's intervention) will extend the number of weeks/months that the site will have to operate, which in turn will lead to longer disruption, especially where parts of the highway/pavement have been closed off to facilitate the site.

The noise team will also investigate complaints of excessive dust from building sites.

Westminster also runs a considerate builders' scheme.

If you are a builder or contractor you can find out more about these restrictions here.

DIY Policy

Noise from DIY home improvements has become very prevalent over recent years with more and more people attempting to save money by undertaking projects in the home themselves instead of employing a contractor, such as a plumber or carpenter.

The Noise Team takes a more lenient view of such DIY noise than it does for commercial contractors and (depending on the scale and nature of the work) will permit DIY activities to take place beyond the normal contractor’s hours.

Householders working alone or with limited help often have far less time to carry out home improvements than a paid contractor and the team recognises this. Generally, it is acceptable for householders to undertake DIY work between the following hours:

Generally speaking 3-4 hours total duration, each day between

• Monday to Saturday : 8am-9pm
• Sundays and Bank holidays: 10am-4pm 

However, the Noise Team will consider each case on its merits when considering how to tackle DIY noise complaints and will take account of factors such as the equipment used, and the overall duration of the job.

Larger DIY projects requiring more time to complete than allowed in this policy will need to be carried out during normal Building Site allowed hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm
• Saturday: 8am - 1pm
• Sundays and Bank Holidays – No noisy works
  
  

 It is also advisable to let your neighbours know when you are about to carry out noisy work.

Contact us on the 24-Hour Hotline 020 7641 2000. 

Control of Pollution Act 1974 Section 61 Prior Approval Application Documents;

1. Section 61 Prior Approval Application Form
2. Guidance Notes
3. Site Information Document
4. Dispensation / Variation Form