Quiet period
Construction sites can be disruptive to the local community for long periods of time.
Generally, the hours during which construction sites are allowed to operate is determined by the local authority, in accordance with the Control of Pollution Act, and conditions can be applied to planning permissions in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act.
Requirements may be set out in a code of construction practice (CoCP), attached to the planning permission for a development. This may define the permitted hours of working, and may also prescribe quiet periods, during which certain activities may not be allowed, such as:
- Use of cutting power tools.
- Breaking or dismantling using power tools, machines or plant.
- Use of impact fasteners.
- Loading heavy materials.
- Other noisy activities considered unacceptable by Environmental Health Officers.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BREEAM Considerate Construction.
- Clerk of works.
- Code of construction practice.
- Complaining about construction sites.
- Considerate Contractors.
- Construction dust.
- Damage caused by construction works.
- Nuisance.
- Planning obligation.
- Planning permission.
- Pollution.
- Quiet area.
- Site rules.
- What hours are construction sites allowed to operate?
- Working day.
Featured articles and news
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.