To think this is not allowed? Construction noise

[LoudNoiseCantCope]

NC’d for this as I also posted in local facebook groups for opinions and to see if others have the same issue or if I’m just being noise sensitive.

I live in a new build (and I’m not looking for a debate on new builds). When we moved here we knew there would be construction noise and we were fine with that. And we still are….during the day.

Early mornings however! Apparently work is allowed to start at 7am on weekdays, which I still think is very early. But in reality that seems to mean the noise starts before 6:30. All the builders sit queuing down our road and others with their engines on, sometimes music playing. If you’re trying to get back to sleep it’s impossible. Then once all the vans are in the material deliveries start around 6:45, this is actually louder than the construction as the lorries and material on them are so noisy.

I’m having problems sleeping at the moment and it’s just making me so mad. Awoken at 6:30 this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep, now listening to all the deliveries.

Do we have any grounds for complaint - are there any rules or laws on construction and associated noises this early every single fucking day?

Sorry should have included in my post:

Apparently construction is allowed to begin at 8am on Saturdays, which means the times in my OP just move an hour later (sometimes not even just this! We’ve had the vans outside at 7am on a Saturday before).

We do at least get a reprieve on Sundays.

Tradition is for tradies to start at 7am then work till 3pm. This ensures materials can be moved to construction sites before rush hour and also frees time in the afternoon to place material orders at the builder’s yard. I think you might be being unreasonable.

Most people get up at 6:30ish surely?

Well the poor guys don’t finish around 5 or later round here!

Maybe I should get them to complain they’re overworked although come to think of it I think there’s some sort of swap at midday

Look up the 1974 Pollution Control Act, noise should be restricted until 8am.

Complain to your Council eith evidence of the noise, and keep complaining.

Thank you, I’ll have a look into this. Does the traffic/engines/deliveries count as construction noise or are they covered by the act regardless?

You could have a word with the site manager... Their number will be on the site board. They will be able to ask their trade teams to keep the noise down if they are parked outside a habitated house or get them to park in a different place area.

It will probably be more effective and have swifter results than complaining to the council... Especially if the developer is part of the considerate constructors scheme.

No. YOU get up at 6.30 ish - other people get up when they want/need to.

I’d be fine with everything except the engines. It’s cold alright but their employer should provide somewhere they can eat lunch and keep warm, like a cabin and stipulate that they’re not to have their individual engines running.

Speak to the site manager and see if he can help with any of it.

Music turned down, engines off when idling. They don't want to upset the new home owners usually in my experience but there's probably little else they can do.

Is your house/garden finished? On our development some got free turf for complaining.

Their working hours will be set out in the planning conditions for the site. 8am-5pm is fairly standard.

Before you pull out the big guns, could you go and speak to the site manager ?

Have you even read the OP? She's clearly complaining about noise BEFORE 7am.

Also just because you clearly are up by 6.30 that doesn't mean it's the case for most people. It's certainly not for me and presumably not for most given the guidelines on when this work can be done!

Thank you, I’ll go have a nosey down the road to find the sign with their number.

Yes our house is all complete, as is our road. It’s an absolutely massive development and I’m struggling to find the site plans online to see when they’ll be finishing building near us (they’re building all over the place). The houses go up fairly quickly but they’re far away from our road. I’m guessing once passed us is done we won’t have to deal with it anymore. I could cope if there was an end in sight.

For context we moved here last year and it’s been everyday except Sundays and bank holidays since then. So not a short term issue.

A site that size should have a Construction Environmental Management Plan, which will have been agreed with the Council and will have agreed working hours in it. The site office should be able to provide a copy on request or it should be on the planning portal at the Council with the planning application.

I liked your post until the (possibly deliberately) oblivious and provocative 6:30 comment.

Thank you was feeling like a right lazy bones I work from home most of the week (as does my partner), and as I’m light on sleep as it is I’m not going to get up early for the sake of it.

In fairness, it doesn’t wake me up some mornings, and others the noise doesn’t carry on for long and I fall back asleep.

But I have no reason to be up at 6:30, and lots of reasons to still be asleep.

I don't know the rules but that seems unreasonable to me and would also drive me round the bend.

I’ll ask for one, I’ve been trying to google the plans etc but it just oils up documents from years ago and I can’t make head or tail of it. I think the development plans since must have changed but can’t find an updated copy.

Is there a short term pain, long term gain scenario here? Ie if you go in too hard could it create delays to overall completion? I’d maybe ask for some small concessions like no engines idling/music playing when on site.

No, it doesn’t, we have a private estate near us, tradespeople are not allowed in before 8am and they are queuing on a main road outside estate, workmen are standing around, hoping to get work by the entrance, from 7am, annoying householders and the traffic builds up, just so the people living in the estate get to sleep in quiet till 8am. My DH is a retired tradesman, he would often get shouted at if he turned up before 8 and started preparing his day ahead, so generally he would just read his paper until 8, no loud radio). You complain to the Council, they come out, tell the contractors off, but doubt it will change, but starting before 8 weekdays and 9 weekends is what they should be doing and probably does need reporting.

I have no idea it’s been going on for a year+ already and the houses still seem in the distance. I’m going to follow others suggestions to speak to the site manager and if they’re not helpful at least ask for the plans so I can figure out how long it will be going on for.

At the moment it feels like long term pain, no gain.

Good point about concessions, I’ll make it very clear that it’s only the very early mornings I’m complaining about, some of the workers are just sat on vans for ages so I can’t see much difference coming a bit later will make. The noise during the day doesn’t bother me so I’ll make it clear I’m not complaining about that.

It’s hard isn’t it because you’ve moved into a new build on a new, developing site. They are working to tight timescales and it’s all driven by money. I think unfortunately you’re going to have to be patient and wear ear plugs.

I can never find ear plugs that work for me, always hurt/are uncomfortable so stop me sleeping, or too big and just fall out anyway.

I’ve tried the moldable putty type ones and ended up with an ear infection.

I am open to doing something with the windows to see if that stops the noise travelling in. Will get back to researching that tonight.

The site manager will be able to give you the site phasing / sequencing dates. The planning docs don't have that information simply because they change... The wet and cold over the last couple of days will have created a delay.

Give them time to get the site working and give them a call. Most site managers are reasonable and pragmatic... To do the job they have to be.

I’d second talking to the site manager but I don’t think deliveries or engine noises are covered by the pollution act. Certainly deliveries to retail parks, including the loud beeping reversing alarms and engine idling while they unload etc, all happens before 7am in most places.

"Most people get up at 6.30"

No, that's you! I dont know anyone who gets up at 6.30 unless they have very small kids.