We expect builders and developers to minimise disruption to residents and local businesses, restoring the street scene as appropriate. Where it is in our power to do so, we will take enforcement action against those who do not work to these standards.
If you need more information on how to select a builder or developer, go to the National Federation of Builders, or the Office of Fair Trading, who provide a step-by-step guide, Having work done on your home.
If you are a contractor who wishes to sign up to this scheme, you can download a charter to sign and return to us, or you can request a copy of the document directly from us using the contact details.
Details
We ask all builders and developers to work to the following standard, and will take enforcement action against those who do not.
Advance planning - in all cases, contact us for further information:
- Ensure residents are informed well in advance of your plans. Under the Party Wall Act (1996) adjoining residents must be notified about work one to two months in advance of work starting, depending on the work. It is the owner's responsibility to notify neighbours, but contractors should ensure that owners have done so.
- Apply for licences for skips, hoardings and scaffolding if these extend outside the site boundaries.
- Apply for a traffic order if needed.
- Apply for Section 50 notices (opening notices) through us where necessary (New Roads and Street Works Act 1991). Please note that a bond will be required.
- Agree temporary vehicle access to allow for unloading and turning circles, and apply for temporary crossovers.
- Submit all details required by conditions of planning permission to the Council's town planners before work starts and in good time for proper consideration.
Site arrangements:
- Ensure toilets, cabins, machinery and lighting have a minimal effect on residents.
- Display site notices on hoardings that clearly provide information and contact numbers, to include name and brief description of the works and completion dates; name and address of both the developer's, contractor's and site agent's head offices; a contact number for out-of-hours emergencies and reference to the Council's telephone numbers.
- Ensure hoardings are child proof.
- Provide wheel-washing and dust damping facilities.
- Do not dispose of site-clearance waste as bonfires.
- Protect trees within or adjacent to the site from impact damage, root damage and dehydration; ensure due attention to any requirements in planning conditions to protect trees on the site during works, such as fencing around them; avoid digging trenches under tree canopies, etc.
- Ensure compliance with all planning permission conditions that relate to construction work.
Construction:
- Ensure that working practices are safe and conform to national standards.
- Keep residents regularly informed of progress.
- Ensure all materials and site activities are kept behind well-maintained hoardings.
- Control deliveries and contractor's vehicles.
- Limit on-street parking.
- Ensure sight lines are maintained.
- Only run machinery where necessary.
- Keep noise at acceptable levels and work only within the permitted hours. Where people's homes are likely to be affected by noise, the hours of 'noisy work' must be restricted to Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm. On Sundays and bank holidays, there must be no noisy activities on site. For further information, refer to the Code of Practice: Control of Pollution from Demolition and Construction Sites (June 2007) and contact Environmental Health and Trading Standards.
Off-site work
- Ensure all temporary road signs and traffic management are in accordance with the Department of Transport's regulations.
- Carry out streetworks as quickly as practicable, including reinstatements to standard.
- Keep works properly sectioned off, with due care for pedestrian access.
- Keep hoardings, public footways and crossovers clean and tidy.
- Ensure damage to grass verges, footways, street furniture or any aspects of the street scene is properly repaired within one month of completion. You may be required to provide evidence, in the form of a photographic record or survey of the condition of the verge or footway before work began.
- Prioritise the needs of all residents. Give thought particularly to those with mobility and visual impairments.
Contacts
Telephone: 020 8313 4621
E-mail: street.services@bromley.gov.uk
Address: Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH.
Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm