Private building work being a nuisance...

[Mobius1]

There has been private building work to construct a large house that, I believe, will be used as flats behind where I live for almost 2 years now (almost the whole time I've been renting my flat). The access is down the side of the building I live in, and it's very narrow and leads probably about 100 metres off the street.

My problem is whoever is building this seems to be doing it on the cheap and has used several different construction companies so far. The last lot were a bunch of Irish blokes who shouted a lot. Currently it seems to be an Asian staffed affair.

These people work on weekends as well and their talking and general building affairs can be heard most mornings. Heavy machinery and oversized delivery lorries "reversing bleeps" for long periods as they struggle to get their vehicles reversed down the narrow access whilst blocking the street in the process is also very common. Additionally, I am annoyed because they keep burning huge fires to get rid of stuff, from which ash blows over the wall and onto my car (in it's marked parking space at the back) and quite often I am unable to have the windows open at night because of the smell of smoke from the smouldering fire they leave.

What can I do about this? I don't really have the confidence to approach them, but of course they don't show a company address or contact details at the entry of the site. I wouldn't mind so much, but the amount of time it's taking to build what is essentially just a large house is ridiculous. I feel I am suffering because the land owner wants to build on the cheap, and I don't think that's fair. What's the best course of action?

[jackthehat]

Contact your local Planning Department, as your first action.
Complain about the 'nuisances' being caused; i.e. noise, smoke, ash, etc.

They will make further enquiries.

[The-HouseHusband]

could you not check with your local council as to who has planning rights on the land, if they are doing it on the cheap they may have skipped this step so the council will intervene anyway

[McMouse]

Contact your local planning authority to obtain details of the developer. The fact that it is taking time doesn't mean it's being done on the cheap. The Buildings Regs people will be inspecting from time to time to ensure the construction and materials are according to approved plans.

[redcrx]

having seen lots of recent reports of bonfires being extinguished by suffolk fire service i asked why. Apparently if anyone complains about a bonfire and its smoke the fire service have to put it out.
Not sure if same elsewhere but why not call and speak to your local fire station?

[Mobius1]

I had considered contacting the local planning department and will seek to do this now.

I honestly don't see how the local council is inspecting this development. There is large amount of space that is being taken up with rubble at the moment, on top of this there is a port-a-loo balanced on a wooden pallet. This is above the "pit" area where they have a fire. I don't know much about health and safety, but I'm sure that set up is neither of those.

[Mobius1]

McMouse: Take a look at these pics:

Portaloo - http://img.photobucke...5/Syphadeus/Porta.jpg
Fire area - http://img.photobucke...25/Syphadeus/Fire.jpg

I took these right next to the wall of my building looking over a 5ft 5inch wall, which is all that separates my parking area from this carnage. Incidentally, they also woke me up one morning asking me to move my car because they were knocking the top half of that very wall down and didn't want to risk my car being damaged. I had received no notice prior that they were going to do that.

[jackthehat]

As I said, your first port of call ought to be the Planners.
They will alert other agencies if they feel there are any issues arising in addition to dealing with matters within their remit.

[wolf63]

I must apologise - but that portaloo looks like the TARDIS balance precariously on some far off planet. No way would I use that. It looks like a 'cowboy' building company.

[The Builder]

As McM said, Building Control must be involved surely? They're a part of the Planning Dept. anyway, so they must know about it.
Might I suggest your best bet would be Environmental Health (local council). They tend to deal with nuisance etc.

[cassa333]

Isit their wall to knock down?

[bushbaby_de]

Mobius - Ask the planning department for a copy of the planning permission as they are likely to be conditions covering many of the issues you have raised. If so, their Enforcement Team can take action for breach of condition. Environmental Health legislation will also apply so you may want to involve them if there are no relevant conditions on the planning permission.
@The Builder - Building Control isn't part of the Planning Department - they are two different and separate functions. I'm not sure that building control deal with site safety etc, only the safety of the build itself - accidents on building sites are dealt with by the HSE, for example.