Construction site working hours under post-lockdown review in Preston

Construction site working hours are being reviewed.

Preston planners are being encouraged to extend working hours as more construction sites begin to re-open.

The standard permitted hours are generally 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, with no construction works on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

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The Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy recommends that local planning authorities should support requests from developers to start work earlier in the day. They are also encouraged to agree to extending working hours up to 9pm from Monday to Saturday.

At present, site hours may be controlled through planning conditions or construction management plans attached to any granted planning permission.

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For any new requests covering a period of up to 12 weeks, the developer should make the request via the council’s website. Arrangements longer than 12 weeks require an application to extend conditions within the Construction Environmental management plan.

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Chris Hayward, Director of Development and Housing at Preston City Council, said: “It’s important for the economic recovery of Preston that works can re-start safely at construction sites as soon as possible.

“While it’s vital that developments are allowed to make up lost time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have to balance that with being considerate to those living around and next to these sites.

“This new piece of legislation allows developers of larger sites to request extended working hours.

“Any requests need to include the type of task taking place after 6pm, which will not be the use of heavy machinery or noise intensive activities.

“While local planning authorities are encouraged to grant each developer request, I can reassure Preston residents that decisions will continue to be taken on a case-by-case basis.”

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