BLACKBURN with Darwen Council is to allow building firms to extend their hours of construction work on housing sites in the borough.

It was responding to a government request to do so as part of getting the economy going again.

The current standard hours of working at development sites are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm, and not on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “Where the change is short term and only a modest increase in working hours, this will be by an informal agreement. The developers must put in writing how they are proposing to operate and the type of activity beyond the authorised hours.

"There will be no heavy machinery, ground working or HGV construction activity before 7.30am and after 6pm. Beyond these times it should only be non-noisy activity - tradespersons working on the dwellings such as bricklayers, plasterers, electricians, painters/decorators.

“Several requests have been received which is good news as sites go back. This will help social distancing.”