Noisy building works

Permitted hours

In Camden, noisy building works can be carried out without any authorisation:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday from 8am to 1pm

Noisy building works should not take place without authorisation:

outside the above-mentioned hours
on Sundays and Bank Holidays

Builders carrying out noisy building works outside of these hours may be liable for prosecution.

Planned noisy building works

Builders can apply for prior consent to work outside of the permitted hours under Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

To apply, builders should complete this form and send it by email to: [email protected].

Please note:

the application must be made at least 28 days prior to the works being carried out.
consideration will only be given where restrictions and constraints are imposed by third parties. (For example works involving road or railway closures, health and safety reasons, heavy loads)
a response will be provided by the Council within 28 days from receipt of the application.
the response provided may contain conditions.

Unplanned noisy building works

If noisy building works unexpectedly have to be carried out outside of the permitted hours, the person in charge of the site should call the Council on 020 7974 4444 as soon as possible with the following details:

full details of the person in charge of the site
reason for late completion
works to be undertaken
mitigation measures
predicted completion time

Once this information is provided, a Noise and Pollution Response Officer will call the applicant back to discuss the notification.

Unexpected late completions will only be approved if:

for Health and Safety or safe engineering reasons, the works cannot be practically completed in the normal working day and/or
the out of hours activities carried out would have acceptable minor noise impacts

The reason for a late completion should be fully explained on this basis and officers reserve the right to request for the noisy works to stop with immediate effect.

All events of unexpected late completions will be recorded. If you fail to notify the Noise and Pollution Response Officer of a late completion following the procedure described above you may be prosecuted.

When practicable, the person in charge of the works should contact neighbours and inform them of the over-run.

The applicant shall also ensure that relevant information is displayed in a prominent place whilst the works are in progress. The information must include an outline of the works taking place and a working telephone enquiry line number.

The applicant shall ensure that the telephone enquiry line is maintained when these works are in progress to deal with enquiries and complaints from the local community.

Noisy emergency works

If unplanned noisy emergency works have to be carried out outside of the permitted hours, the person in charge of the site should call the Council on 020 7974 4444 as soon as possible with the following details:

Full details of the person in charge of the site
Nature of the emergency
Works to be undertaken
Mitigation measures
Predicted time of completion

Noisy emergency works are carried out to prevent imminent harm or risk to the public and can include gas leaks, sewage overflows or loss of amenities.

All events of noisy emergency works will be recorded. Failure to notify the Noise and Pollution Response Officer of noisy emergency works following the procedure described above may lead to prosecution.

When you have notified us of noisy emergency works, you will be visited/called by an officer to confirm the nature of the emergency.

The applicant shall ensure that relevant information is displayed in a prominent place while the works are in progress. The information must include: an outline of the works taking place and a working telephone enquiry line number.