South Derbyshire District Council - Demolitions

Building or demolition works can cause problems for neighbours of the site. You can reduce or avoid causing any nuisance to the neighbours, or action being taken by the council, if you follow this advice.

Tell the council and the neighbours

Give the local authority six weeks notice of demolition work. This should be done using the prescribed S80 form available from the South Derbyshire Building Control Services. The council may impose some conditions about how the work should be done.
A location plan of the building and adjoining streets must be provided together with a method statement for the demolition of larger buildings.
Serve copies of the notice on the relevant statutory undertakers and make arrangements for the safe disconnection of gas,electricity and water supplies.
Send a letter to the neighbours before work starts, telling them about the work and what to expect. Give the neighbours a contact name and telephone number and keep them informed.
Deal promptly with any complaints received on site.

Keep dust, noise and smoke to a minimum

Dust

Keep dust down by spraying with water when and where you can.

Noise

There should be no noise heard from the site outside these hours: Monday to Friday: 7am – 6pm
Particularly noisy operations (e.g. Pile Driving) may need more stringent controls. Pumps and generators should not be left running overnight if they can be heard outside the site.
If you are a householder doing some or all the work yourself, try to avoid causing any noise or dust in the evenings or on Sundays.
If noise problems occur, the Council and the neighbours can take legal action. If you think your work may cause a significant nuisance to the neighbours from noise or vibration, apply for "prior consent" from the council who will allow a certain level of noise to occur.

Smoke

bonfires that release "dark smoke" are illegal and the council will prosecute any offenders.
advice about bonfires is available from the local authority
stop the bonfire at the end of the working day.

Obstruction and damage to pavements

do not let vehicles or materials block or damage the pavements.
do not leave obstacles, holes or trenches where they are a danger, especially to disabled people (e.g. the blind).
the Council may charge you for any damage caused to pavements, kerbs or verges by lorries or heavy plant.

Contact details

South Derbyshire District Council
Building Control
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH

Tel: 01283 228757
Online: contact form
email (Building Control): building.control@south-derbys.gov.uk

Page ref: LGSL 602 and 603

Demolitions - control and advice