<-- Back to proposed bills
Construction update
13 May 2020
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
At a Glance
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.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy