Ok, this is driving me nuts.

Can anyone tell me what the regulations are surrounding the hours building sites are allowed to operate?

I have a site 3 feet from my apartment window (no exaggeration) and its driving me crazy. They tend to start shortly before 7am EVERY morning (7 days a week) and work through until 5. I'm trying to work from home and can't concentrate because the noise is rather loud, and needless to say I'm a bit miffed at being woken up by the constant din very early on a saturday and sunday.

Arrrgh!

With larger developments there are usually restrictions contained in planning consents - copies of which you should be able to find on the Council website.

Dont think theres a lot you can do to be honest. A lot of contracters have penalty clauses involved in the pricing of jobs, ie working seven days a week. Not much use to you i no but thats how a lot of building jobs be it industrial or for accomodation work.

Contact Environmental Services at the council(or whatever they're called today) as there is code of practice to which all building contractors have to sign up. This regulates the hours and does include limits on weekend working.

Thanks guys I may try phoning the council - the building hasn't even started yet, so far the only progress is some holes in the ground so they're obviously on for a long haul. I think I might go mad within the next few days if it carries on.

They're also throwing up so much dust (and the noise is so loud) I can't open my window so it'd better no get too hot anytime soon!

Just in case anyone is interested I managed to find sites from a few local councils on the web and the general consensus is that work which produces noise audible outside the building site is allowed:

Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm

Saturdays 8am to1pm

Sundays and Public Holidays No Working

So the council are getting a call in the morning :)

Ta Twiglet

On the old "Westside" site on Alpine Road (between Springvale and Upperthorpe) they've made a few starts at 6am!!!

They'll get some "what for" if they try it again.

i don't want to rain on anyones parade bur the council will do little or nothing about the noise.
u need evidence of when, who & how they are making the noise.then when u say it was the cement mixer on monday , & a jcb on tuesday they will just say tough luck because it is intermittent.
i work from home & currently have 3 neighbours having extensions built - jcb's,skip,building materials from usually 8am 7 days per week.

I've had very good succes in the past when developers have tried to work outside permitted hours.

You need to talk to "Planning Enforcement" via 273 4215

I spoke to Environmental Protection this morning. Very helpful, said they'd send an officer out to speak to the contractors.

They did seem genuinely concerned, the noise is continuous and its not a domestic noise problem - the contractors are working outside of what the council deem to be 'reasonable hours' for building work in a residential area so they need to be sorted. They should be working at all on a sunday.

Rant over hopefully this week I'll get a more peaceful weekend!:clap:

Hope you manage to get at least a bit of peace and quiet on a Sunday from now on Twiglet :thumbsup:

I once had some workmen start work at 7am each morning. I went out and spoke to them and asked if they could start at 7.30 as that was the time I normally got up (when I was working). They were pretty good about it and the next day turned up at 7.30. It wasn't a big job though, so the probably had a bit of flexibility.

As a lot of contractors these days are under contract to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible I guess they're willing to stretch the rules when they can.

You may find that if they have been finishing at say 5pm that they'll work until 7pm if they're allowed to do it, to make the time up.

Maybe a friendly letter/chat to the contractors could get you some extra noise insulation? And maybe the loan of an air-con machine for when it's hot? No harm in asking.

Originally posted by Hels
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You may find that if they have been finishing at say 5pm that they'll work until 7pm if they're allowed to do it, to make the time up.
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I wouldn't like to go and speak to them (too scared)! It seems a big job I think they're building an apartment block.

Working until 7? I wouldn't mind so much if I got a quiet weekend. But they're still working now, and I doubt environmental protection have been round to speak to them yet!