Guidance for Building Works or Demolition Near a Public Highway

Code of Practice

The Council would encourage anyone carrying out works on or in the vicinity of the highway to uphold the principles of the Considerate Contractor Scheme Code of Practice, as follows:

Be considerate to the needs of all those affected by the construction process and of its impact on the environment. Special attention to be given to the needs of those with sight, hearing or mobility difficulties.
Be environmentally aware in the selection and use of resources. Pay particular attention to pollution avoidance and waste management. Use local resources wherever possible and keep to a minimum at all times noise from a demolition or construction site activity.
Keep the site clean and in good order and ensure that the surrounding area is kept free from mud, spillage and any unnecessary construction debris. It is an offence to deposit anything on the highway to the interruption of any user of the highway.
Be a good neighbour by undertaking full and regular consultation with neighbours regarding site activity from pre-start to final handover. Provide site information and viewing facilities where practical.
Promote respectable and safe standards of behaviour and dress. Lewd or derogatory behaviour should not be tolerated under threat of the strongest possible disciplinary action.
Be safe. All construction operations and vehicle movements to be carried out with care for the safety of passers-by, neighbours and site personnel.

Notification

With regard to demolition, notification to the Building Control Division is required prior to the works commencing by completing a Demolition Notification form. Some other types of works may also require similar notification.

Building Act Conditions

The standard conditions as listed below will be applicable as required by the Building Act 1984, Section 81:

to shore up any building adjacent to the building to which the notice relates;
to weatherproof any surfaces of an adjacent building which are exposed by the demolition;
to repair and make good any damage to an adjacent building caused by the demolition or by the negligent act or omission of any person engaged in it;
to remove material or rubbish resulting from the demolition and clearance of the site;
to disconnect and seal, at such points as the Council may reasonably require, any sewer or drain in or under the building;
to remove any such sewer or drain and seal any sewer or drain with which the sewer or drain to be removed is connected;
to make good to the satisfaction of the Council the surface of the ground disturbed by anything done under paragraph (e) or paragraph (f) of this subsection;
to make arrangements with the relevant statutory undertakers for the disconnection of the supply of gas, electricity and water to the building;
to make such arrangements with regard to the burning of structures or materials on the site as may be reasonably required
1. if the building is or forms part of special premises, by the Health and Safety Executive and the fire authority; and
2. in any other case, by the fire authority; and
to take such steps relating to the conditions subject to which the demolition is to be undertaken and the condition in which the site is to be left on completion of the demolition as the Council may consider reasonably necessary for the protection of the public and the preservation of public amenity.

Before you comply with any requirement of paragraph (e) or (f) above, you must give at least 48 hours' notice to the Council.

Before you comply with paragraph (g) above, you must give at least 24 hours' notice to the Council.

Failure to give such notice will incur liability to a fine not exceeding £50.

Attention is directed to the provisions of section 82 (2), (3), (4) and section 83 (1) and (2) of the Building Act, 1984 (not included here). Any appeal in pursuance of these provisions should be made to a Magistrates' Court and must be brought within 21 days from the date of the service of this notice.