House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Construction update
13 May 2020 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Proposed by Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The UK Government permits flexibility in construction site working hours to ensure safety and ease transport pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Local planning authorities are asked to respond positively and quickly to requests for temporary extensions to working hours, aiming for a 10-working-day turnaround.
- This guidance covers both short-term adjustments without enforcement action and longer-term changes through formal application processes.
Issue summary
The UK Government is allowing greater flexibility in construction site working hours to facilitate safe operations and reduce pressure on public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action requested
Local planning authorities are requested to take a swift and positive approach to requests from developers for temporary extensions to working hours, aiming to respond within 10 working days. This applies to short-term or modest increases without enforcement action and longer-term changes through applications to amend conditions.
Key facts
- Local planning authorities should not seek enforcement action where only a short term or modest increase to working hours is required.
- Applications for longer term or more significant changes should be responded to within 10 working days.
- Temporary relaxation of working hours should not involve work on Sundays or bank holidays unless justified by local conditions, such as in areas without residential properties.
- Requests to extend working hours beyond 9pm, Monday to Saturday require very compelling reasons for rejection.
- Any temporary changes to construction working hours granted by local planning authorities should not extend beyond 13 May 2021.