City of London: Strong standards to tackle construction noise
This case study highlights the City of London's actions from 2019 to improve construction noise by strengthening requirements for contractors and other stakeholders, which will be set out in their new Code of Practice (to be published in 2026).
The City of London has one of the UK’s busiest and most complex construction environments, with multiple projects often taking place at the same time and in very close proximity. Many construction sites sit within narrow medieval streets and mixed‑use neighbourhoods, where residents, offices, hotels, schools and cultural venues can all be directly affected by day‑to‑day construction activity.
This creates a unique set of challenges, including differences in environmental planning, varying quality in ‘schemes of protective works’ and limited visibility of monitoring data. Overlapping schemes can lead to significant cumulative impacts.
Feedback from complaints and baseline monitoring identified recurring issues. These included noisy works taking place at sensitive times, late communication about disruptive activities, structurally transmitted noise, and dust‑related disturbance.
Ward Members, residents’ groups and local businesses highlighted that expectations had changed since the post‑pandemic return to offices and city centre activity. There was a growing expectation for earlier engagement, clearer commitments, and more reliable information about upcoming works and high‑impact phases.
The City of London has strengthened how construction impacts are managed across the Square Mile, by requiring additional best practice beyond the current Code of Practice for Construction and Deconstruction (CoP). An updated CoP (tenth edition) will be published in summer 2026, setting out current expectations.
The revised approach modernised standards for noise, vibration, air quality, monitoring, liaison and sustainability, while responding to increasingly complex construction activity within a dense urban environment.
Modernised monitoring and categorisation
The Construction Impacts and Monitoring framework was expanded with clearer site categories and more proportionate support from Construction Impacts Officers. Provision of continuous noise, vibration and dust monitoring was strengthened, with many sites expected to provide 24/7 remote access to monitoring data. Requirements for baseline monitoring prior to mobilisation were also reinforced.
Enhanced Scheme of Protective Works
Requirements for ‘schemes of protective works’ were significantly expanded. In the City planning consent conditions often require approval of these documents which detail measures to control noise, vibration and dust impacts. Contractors must now provide detailed programmes of works, predicted noise and vibration levels, high impact activity sequencing, mitigation measures, enclosed cutting stations, acoustic screening plans, and site layouts showing monitoring locations and sensitive receptors. Retrofits and shared-structure works now require bespoke controls to prevent structurally transmitted noise and vibration.
Improved community liaison
Contractors must now meaningful consult neighbours and Ward Members before submission, hold briefing events, and maintain site display boards with contact details, complaint channels and Site Hour Variation Request (SHVR) information. Higher impact sites are also expected to provide fortnightly updates.
Updated noise and vibration controls
The City reinforced reduced-impact working hours and introduced stricter criteria for approving SHVRs. Structurally transmitted noise during 09:00 - 17:00 is generally prohibited unless specifically agreed (please note that these timings may be different for other areas, as the City of London has very few residents and so the priority is office workers). Best Practicable Means expectations were also expanded to include quieter plant, electric equipment, off-site prefabrication and enhanced material handling controls.
Strengthened air quality duties
All sites are now considered “high‑risk” for dust under GLA Supplementary Planning Guidance. The Air Quality Dust Management Plan requirements were updated to include real‑time monitoring, trigger action procedures, Non-Road Mobile Machinery Stage V compliance, and greater use of battery-powered, hybrid and zero-emission alternatives in place of diesel equipment where possible.
Sustainability and environmental controls
The revised approach embedded the City’s circular economy framework, encouraging the retention, reuse and upcycling of materials. Requirements were also updated for contaminated land, drainage, waste, spill response and pest control.
Subcontractor accountability
Principal contractors are explicitly responsible for ensuring subcontractors follow the CoP and ‘scheme of protective works’. Persistent non-compliance can now directly influence approvals, inspections and enforcement decisions.
Timeline:
2019: Publication of the Ninth Edition of the CoP
2020 - 2023: Implementation of best practice requirements additional to the CoP
2023–2024: Review of existing CoP and identification of improvement areas
2024–2025: Drafting, consultation and alignment with Considerate Contractor Scheme, planning and policy teams
Summer 2026: Publication of the Tenth Edition of the CoP, which will detail current expectations
Introducing the enhanced construction and deconstruction requirements meant the City had to address several operational and cultural barriers across the construction sector.
Variable contractor capability
Different levels of contractor experience with real-time monitoring, detailed Schemes of Protective Works (SoPWs) and liaison requirements initially led to inconsistent delivery. The City addressed this through early engagement meetings, SoPW templates, targeted technical guidance and direct support from Construction Impacts Officers.
Cumulative impacts and stakeholder complexity
Multiple projects within small geographic clusters created challenges in coordinating programmes and managing cumulative disruption. The revised approach strengthened cross-site liaison, cluster meetings and collaborative scheduling of high‑impact phases. Contractors are now expected to align mitigation strategies and share monitoring insights where impacts overlap.
Governance and compliance consistency
Some contractors were unfamiliar with the enforcement powers and the consequences of non-compliance for Site Hours Variation Requests approvals. Clearer protocols, more transparent enforcement messaging and firmer use of conditions were introduced to support a firmer but proportionate approach to governance.
Technological and resource challenges
Real-time monitoring, enclosed cutting stations and low-emission machinery required new investment. Contractors were encouraged to adopt quieter and cleaner technologies through early discussions, phased implementation, and alignment with Considerate Contractors Scheme Environmental Award criteria.
Sustaining improvements across project cycles
Maintaining consistent standards across long and complex programmes, particularly where teams change, remained a key challenge.
The City has sustained improvements across project cycles by embedding a culture of continuous learning. Regular reviews of monitoring data, complaint trend analysis, and updates to internal guidance have strengthened consistency and quality. This approach ensures that high standards are maintained across new contractors, principal contractors, and wider supply chains.
The revised approach (as will be enshrined in the updated Code of Practice for Construction and Deconstruction) has led to measurable improvements in environmental performance and stakeholder confidence across the Square Mile.
Reduced disturbance
Improved sequencing of works, enhanced Best Practicable Means measures, and strengthened acoustic controls have contributed to reductions in peak noise levels during demolition, piling, and breakout phases, particularly at higher intensity sites. Stricter controls on Site Hours Variation Requests have also reduced unnecessary extended‑hours working, offering greater protection for nearby sensitive receptors.
Improved predictability and transparency
Higher quality ’schemes of protective works’ and mandatory neighbour notifications have reduced unexpected activity and helped businesses and residents plan more effectively around periods of disruption. The use of real‑time monitoring has also enabled officers and contractors to respond quickly to emerging issues.
Strengthened community relationships
Meaningful pre-submission engagement, hybrid briefing sessions and regular project updates have helped build trust and improve relationships between contractors and local stakeholders. Feedback indicates that communication has improved, with stakeholders reporting greater understanding of mitigation measures.
Better governance and industry culture
Clearer expectations around subcontractor accountability, alongside more consistent enforcement, have supported behavioural change across the sector. There has been a noticeable increase in the routine use of quieter plant, electric equipment, low‑emission machinery and enclosed cutting stations as standard practice.
Wider environmental benefits
Stronger Non-Road Mobile Machinery compliance and reduced reliance on diesel generators have contributed to lower local emissions. Circular economy requirements have improved recovery and reuse of materials, including façade elements and steelwork.
The City of London operates in a highly specific context, with very high development density, narrow historic streets, and large numbers of workers, visitors and residents in close proximity. Because of this, the approach has been designed for a uniquely complex urban environment and may need significant adaptation elsewhere. Other local authorities should carefully consider their own local conditions, scale of development activity and governance structures before adopting similar frameworks.
Local authorities and contractors seeking to implement similar improvements should prioritise early engagement and establish clear oversight, roles and responsibilities from the outset. Bringing environmental controls into the design and planning stages early on helps ensure that mitigation measures are realistic, properly sequenced and embedded before works begin, reducing the need for reactive interventions later in the programme.
The use of real-time monitoring, paired with transparent communication, provides a strong foundation for accountability and rapid issue resolution. Meaningful consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders - moving beyond simple notification - helps build trust and can lead to better-informed mitigation strategies. Hybrid engagement formats can also help widen participation across diverse stakeholder groups.
Ensuring that principal contractors maintain effective oversight of their subcontractors is also key to achieving consistent environmental performance across project teams and supply chains. Embedding circular economy principles, alongside modern low emission plant requirements, and enclosed cutting or prefabricated construction methods can deliver long-term reductions in noise, dust and carbon impacts.
Finally, regularly reviewing and monitoring data, complaints, trends and lessons learned helps maintain momentum and sustain improvements over time, supporting higher standards across future projects.
Noise Action Week Case Study Bank
Noise Action Week celebrates organisations that are making a real difference in managing noise and improving health and wellbeing for their communities. We have developed a 'living' bank of case studies showcasing local authorities, businesses, and other organisations that demonstrate good practice in noise management.
If you have a suggestion for a case study, please contact the Noise Action Week Coordinator Ellie Savage (ellie@the-ies.org).
Image credit: Andrea Izzotti via Adobe Stock
