The National Grid (Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement) Order 2024

Construction hours

7.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (4), work may only take place between 07.00 and 19.00 Monday to Friday and between 08.00 and 17.00 on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays (the core working hours), unless otherwise approved by the relevant planning authority.

(2) No piling operations may take place between 19.00 and 07.00, or on Sundays, Bank Holidays or other public holidays, and, unless otherwise agreed with the local highway authority, no HGV deliveries may be made to site between 19.00 and 07.00, or on Sundays, Bank Holidays or other public holidays.

(3) The following operations may take place outside the core working hours referred to in sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) trenchless crossing operations including beneath highways, railway lines, woodlands or watercourses;

(b) the installation and removal of conductors, pilot wires and associated protective netting across highways, railway lines or watercourses;

(c) the jointing of underground cables (save for the cutting of underground cables);

(d) the continuation of operations commenced during the core working hours to a point where they can safely be paused;

(e) any highway works requested by the highway authority to be undertaken on a Saturday, Sunday or a Bank Holiday or outside the core working hours;

(f) the testing or commissioning of any electrical plant installed as part of the authorised development;

(g) the completion of works delayed or held up by severe weather conditions which disrupted or interrupted normal construction activities that the undertaker and its contractor agree forms the critical path for the accepted construction programme. In such cases, the undertaker must, as soon as practicable, notify the relevant planning authority of the disruption or interruption and explain why that work could not be completed within the core working hours referred to in sub-paragraph (1);

(h) activity necessary in the instance of an emergency where there is a risk to persons or property;

(i) security monitoring;

(j) non-intrusive surveys; and

(k) intrusive surveys, in the instance of an emergency where there is a risk to persons or property or following a request made by the relevant planning authority.

(4) The core working hours referred to in sub-paragraph (1) exclude start-up and close down activities up to one hour either side of the core working hours. A 50dBA noise limit (LOAEL) will apply at the nearest noise-sensitive receptors for start-up and close down activities up to one hour either side of the core working hours.

(5) No construction activities may take place between 19.00 and 07.00, or on Sundays, Bank Holidays or other public holidays at—

(a) pylon PCB 64;

(b) pylon 4Y004A;

(c) pylon RB44;

(d) pylon RB7;

(e) pylon RB33;

(f) pylon RB25; and

(g) pylon 4YLA002,

as shown on Figure 4.1 in the environmental statement figures (document reference 6.4(B)).

(6) The severe weather conditions referred to in sub-paragraph 3(g) means any weather which prevents work from taking place during the core working hours referred to in sub-paragraph (1) by reason of physical incapacity (whether for reasons of visibility, ground conditions, power availability, site access or otherwise) or being contrary to safe working practices.