Environmental Monitoring
Supporting Demolition & Construction
Environmental Monitoring - usually in the form of noise, vibration and air quality monitoring - is required for the majority of demolition and construction projects and is normally carried out under condition or request from the Local Planning Authority or Regulator.
In sensitive areas, for example residential, the monitoring regime put in place is often key to the success of the project – helping us to minimise environmental risks for clients, including reputational damage, potential legal action and costly delays due to working restrictions.
In addition to environmental monitoring, a full range of structural and deformation monitoring services are available through our Monitoring team.
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S61 Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a S61?
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Do I need a S61?
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A S61 isn’t specified in my planning conditions, is it still required?
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Do I need to monitor my site?
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What sort of information is required?
What is a S61?
The legal answer:
A Section 61 refers to ‘Prior consent for work on construction sites’ under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. This section allows for consent to be granted where Section 60 may be breeched (Control of Noise on Construction Sites). Under Section 60 the local authority can serve a notice dictating the type of plant, hours and noise levels for the works – this can also result in a site being ‘abated’ causing works to cease immediately. Non-compliance with a Section 60 notice can result in an offence against the Act. Having a Section 61 means you have discussed with the council and agreed to your operating time, noise levels, best practice mitigation and have a defence against any notice served under Section 60 (a situation you will have hopefully avoided).
The crux of it:
A consent issued as a result of working with your local authority to ensure your site will operate efficiently and won’t cause adverse effects to your neighbours resulting in your site being shut down and possible fines.
Do I need a S61?
If you are undertaking noisy activities such as breaking during demolition or piling in construction, which could disrupt your neighbours then we would advise obtaining a Section 61 to mitigate the risk of project delays.
A S61 isn’t specified in my planning conditions, is it still required?
If you have been issued with a consent, you might find a requirement for a construction environmental management plan, we would advise producing a Section 61 application alongside this before you begin works otherwise you might find yourself required to meet noise levels that aren’t reflective of the work required in demolition and construction.
Do I need to monitor my site?
As part of a Section 61 you may be required to monitor your noise and vibration levels to ensure you are compliant with your consent. This creates an evidence based approach. We will also need to know the baseline noise of the site – so we can see what predicted noise levels may be.
What sort of information is required?
To assist us in preparing a S61 we need to know broadly; what you will be doing, how you will be doing it – what plant machinery will be in use – for how long (programme) and for what % of time (e.g. 10% each day) and how you will mitigate the impacts created.
Immediate Data Provision
Plowman Craven provides a full range of automated and manual, noise, vibration and air quality surveys and monitoring using state-of-the-art monitoring systems.
On-site monitoring equipment provides live, web-accessible data enabling levels and any exceedances to be viewed online at the convenience of project stakeholders, ensuring they are engaged and informed.
Systems are also configured to notify site managers immediately - via SMS text messages - when agreed trigger levels are exceeded on site, enabling mitigative action to be taken and complaints avoided.
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A Complete Monitoring Package
Plowman Craven's structural & environmental Monitoring services - plus a range of construction surveying services - are integrated with our broader surveying and measurement offerings.
How Can We Help?
Let’s discuss your requirements and see how our expertise in Environmental Monitoring can help on your next project.
Plowman Craven has 60 years’ experience providing integrated measurement and consultancy services to the property and infrastructure markets.
