Section 61 construction noise consents

We help contractors and developers secure Section 61 prior consents under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, supporting projects of all sizes from individual demolitions to major infrastructure schemes.

What is a Section 61 consent?

A Section 61 application gives a contractor advance approval from the local authority for the noise (and often vibration) likely to be generated by construction works. Once granted, the consent provides legal certainty over working hours, permitted noise levels and the monitoring regime, provided the works are carried out within the agreed terms.

The alternative, a Section 60 notice served after works have started, gives the contractor far less control and exposes the project to enforcement risk. For sensitive sites such as town centres, sites with residential proximity, or sites near hospitals or schools, a Section 61 consent is the standard approach.

When you need one

A Section 61 consent is typically required when:

• the local authority has a published policy requiring them (common in London boroughs and most major UK cities);
• the site is within 100 metres of residential or other noise-sensitive receptors;
• works will extend beyond standard hours (07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 13:00 Saturday);
• the planning consent imposes a noise condition that references CoPA 1974.

The application must be made before works commence. Most local authorities expect at least 28 days for assessment, although some London boroughs request 42 days for complex schemes.

How we support a Section 61 application

ACT Acoustics provides the full acoustic workstream for a Section 61 submission:

• Pre-commencement noise survey to establish baseline measurements at all noise-sensitive locations.
• BS 5228 predictive modelling, providing plant-by-plant and activity-by-activity predictions of construction noise at each receptor, using the assessment framework in BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014.
• ABC Method assessment, comparing predicted levels against the threshold categories in BS 5228-1 Annex E.3.
• Best Practicable Means narrative, documenting the mitigation hierarchy the contractor will apply.
• Application drafting including the formal Section 61 notice, proposed working hours, plant inventory, monitoring proposal and escalation procedure.
• Real-time monitoring during works, with web-connected noise and vibration monitoring at the agreed receptors and automated alerts when thresholds are approached. See our construction noise monitoring and vibration monitoring services.

Related reading

• What is Section 61? — full explainer covering the legal background, the ABC Method, and the consequences of breach.

For a quote on a Section 61 acoustic workstream, get in touch.