Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to require (1) property owners, (2) developers, and (3) building firms, to pay compensation to neighbours affected by (a) noise, (b) vibrations, (c) dust, (d) lost or diminished letting income, (e) over-run of time to complete projects, and (f) diminished property values, while building works are in prospect or progress.

This Government supports construction activity, which is crucial to delivering much needed housing as well as infrastructure and other development necessary to sustain and grow our communities. This is why we have taken steps for a temporary period during the Covid pandemic to encourage planning authorities to take a flexible approach to enforcement of breaches of conditioned construction working hours. However, we recognise the disruption that noise, vibration and dust can have on neighbours which is why these changes do not alter authorities' legal obligations under the existing statutory environmental health framework. I can confirm that the Government has no intention of introducing compensation schemes in respect of building activity.