Skip To Main Content
Greater Cambridge Shared Planning

Extension to changes to construction working hours

This is a short update regarding the hours which can be worked at construction sites. Until 30 September 2021, government guidance requires local planning authorities to approve requests to extend construction working hours temporarily so that sites can operate until 9pm, Monday to Saturday, unless there are very compelling reasons against this. This will ensure safe working in line with social distancing guidelines. 

Government guidance: modification of planning conditions relating to construction working hours (updated 22 July 2020) and the ministerial statement (13 May 2020), provided a temporary fast track deemed consent route, under section 74B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, enabling urgent changes to construction working hours to support safe construction working in line with the government’s latest social distancing guidance on construction and other outdoor work. The guidance was in force until 1 April 2021.

The government has published updated Coronavirus (COVID-19): construction update Q&A guidance (25 March 2021) and the ministerial statement (25 March 2021)

Extensions to construction working hours can continue to be made via:

  • Cambridge City Council’s online form (form closed 30 September 2021)
  • South Cambridgeshire District Council’s online form (form closed 30 September 2021)

Local authorities have 14 calendar days to consider applications for extension to construction working hours and will endeavour to respond within 10 days. If the local planning authority does not determine the application within 14 days (excluding public holidays), the revised working hours are deemed to have been consented to and construction can take place in accordance with these new hours.

Requests to extend construction working hours temporarily so that sites can operate until 9pm, Monday to Saturday, are expected to be approved unless there are very compelling reasons against this. This will ensure safe working in line with social distancing guidelines.

31 March 2021

About us