Investigation and enforcement
What happens after you report noise
We will review your report and may contact you for more information. Investigations can take time.
You may be asked to:
- use a noise app to record short clips
- continue keeping a noise diary
Contacting the person or company
We will usually contact the contractor or individual responsible. This often resolves the issue quickly.
Further investigation
If the noise continues, we may:
- install noise monitoring equipment at your property
- visit your property to assess the noise
We will consider:
- time of day
- frequency and duration
- location of the work
- nature and impact of the noise
- any steps taken to reduce it
Permitted working hours
Typical construction site hours are:
- Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
- Saturday: 8am to 1pm
- Sunday: no work allowed
We will check whether the company is taking reasonable steps to reduce noise.
Enforcement
If we find that the noise is excessive and the company have not taken reasonable steps to control it, we may issue an enforcement notice under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
This notice may:
- restrict working hours
- require changes to working methods
If the company does not comply, we may take legal action.