The Construction Management Plan Service

The Construction Management Plan Service (CMP Service) is a new fee-based service to review, approve and monitor Construction Management Plans (CMP) and Site Environmental Management Plans (SEMP).

The service will cover the demolition stage through to final handover or occupation of developments. The service was introduced to better manage the growing harm from construction on our neighbourhoods and roads.  

The CMP Service is engaged via the application of a planning condition at planning approval stage. This condition is called the Code of Construction Practice (CoCP) condition. The CoCP Checklist is a summary document listing all required submissions for a Major development scheme. This includes:

• Construction Management Plan (CMP) including Construction Traffic Management Plan
• Site Environmental Management Plan (SEMP)
  • Part A: Noise & Vibration Management Plan
  • Part B: Dust and Air Quality Management Plan
  • Part C: Site Waste Management Plan
• Application for consent under Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974

The CoCP Checklist relates directly to the guidance found within the Code of Construction Practice (CoCP 2023).

• Code of Construction Practice (CoCP 2023)
• Code of Construction Practice (CoCP 2006) is available on request at CMP@TowerHamlets.gov.uk

Why is a CMP & SEMP required?

For most Strategic and Major schemes, the council require a CMP and an SEMP to be submitted for approval. This must be done prior to the start of any construction work on site. CMPs and SEMPs may be required for minor developments depending on the complexity of the development. The CMP Service will monitor compliance with these documents for the duration of the development.

• A fee will be charged prior to any review and negotiation on CMP/SEMPs. See below for further detail on charges and payment method
• To find out if a CMP or SEMP is required, please contact CMP@TowerHamlets.gov.uk

A CMP is required for all major developments that will have an impact on the public highway and neighbouring residents. There has been, and continues to be, significant growth across Tower Hamlets.

We need to plan, manage, and coordinate the routes and activities of construction vehicles. This is needed to keep the highway network safe and navigable.

An SEMP helps to ensure that any negative environmental impacts (noise, vibration, dust and air quality) resulting from a construction are minimised. It also ensures that statutory environmental legislation is followed.

 The CMP Service enables Tower Hamlets to focus dedicated resource to:

• Anticipating and managing the impacts of development on the public highway
• Minimising and monitoring negative environmental impacts
• Managing disruption caused by construction site access and vehicle routes. Minimising their impacts on other nearby construction sites.
• Continually monitoring development sites to ensure compliance with approved CMPs and SEMPs

Permitted working hours

There have been changes to ‘Working Hours’ in the April 2023 CoCP that mean we will be running two CoCPs alongside each other for a few years.

We cannot apply these new restrictions to developments that already have planning approval. The following table gives advice as to which CoCP will apply to your development depending on when it received planning approval.

Developments seeking amendments to planning approvals issued before 26 April 2023 may have the new 2023 Working Hours imposed if relevant to the details being amended.

CoCP working hours comparison

The following table compares the 2006 and 2023 CoCP working hours. It is for a variety of common construction activities for ease of reference.

Noisy work must not take place outside these hours unless otherwise agreed through a Control of Pollution Act 1974 Section 61 Prior Consent. Special circumstances for consideration include:

• Police traffic restrictions
• Emergencies related to public safety

For more information on how to apply please visit the guidance for Section 61 page. To request a S61 prior consent, please contact environmental.protection@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Area wide CMPs and SEMPs

Area wide CMP/SEMPs or coordination meetings may be required in addition to site specific documents. These will be at the discretion of the CMP service team.

The aim is to jointly plan for minimising the impacts of multiple construction schemes affecting each other and residents, businesses and local community stakeholders in the area.

Area-wide CMP/SEMPs and coordination meetings should consider:

• Key policy drivers (NPPF, TfL, MTS)
• Key challenges such as traffic, congestion, noise, environment, and local community considerations
• Strategies to reduce impacts
• Heavy Goods Vehicle forecasts for delivery timings
• CMP monitoring

Tower Hamlets Construction Forums (area based)

The Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2031, Policy D.DG4 states that for new development, developers must attend a Construction Forum. The forum to attend will relate to the location of the development.

Every six weeks, the Development Coordination team hosts two online forums. These forums bring together developers and contractors who work in areas that have high levels of construction activity.

Currently we host two forums:

• Isle of Dogs Construction Forum (previously known as the ‘Marsh Wall Construction Forum’) has been meeting since July 2021
• City Fringe and East of the Borough Construction Forum set up in May 2023

For further information please visit the Development Coordination page. Or contact the team at development.coordination@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

CMP Service application process

No development will take place, including demolition, until the council’s Code of Construction Practice Checklist (CoCP checklist) has been completed.

This must be signed by the applicant and approved in writing (countersigned) by the CMP officer. The CoCP Checklist sets out the required information for discharge of the CMP and SEMP. 

Download the CoCP Checklist (writable PDF) document

The Construction Management Plan (CMP) and Site Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) must provide a site-specific summary of planned management, monitoring, and auditing procedures to ensure compliance with the CoCP. We encourage applicants to use the CMP and SEMP templates when making an application:

• Construction Management Plan (CMP) template
• Site Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) template

The CMP Officer will be your main point of contact. They will consult the Environmental Health, Highways & Transport teams on CMP and SEMP applications. Contact the service at CMP@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

A neighbourhood consultation process must have been undertaken before submission of the first draft of the CMP and SEMP. The consultation should take place following the granting of Planning Approval.

Step 1

Planning Approval has been granted with a (CoCP Checklist) condition imposed ‘that no development is to commence until the CoCP Checklist (CMP/SEMP) has been approved and signed by the CMP officer’.

To ensure timely CMP and SEMP approval of the CoCP checklist, please ensure that:

• Information is sent promptly. The response period for the review and approval of the CoCP is 40 working days. Any iterations and re-submissions will be subject to the same response period
• All documentation and information listed in the CoCP Checklist is provided in full 
• he information submitted is proportionate to the categorisation of development (Minor, Major or Strategic)

If development starts before the approval of the CMP and SEMP, enforcement action will be taken as this will be deemed a breach of the planning permission.

If the criteria listed in the CoCP Checklist are not met, the application will be deemed invalid. We will be in contact to explain what information is required before the application can be re-assessed.

Once approved, works must be carried out in accordance with the approved documents and plans (CMP/SEMP). Not doing so risks enforcement action.

Step 2

Applicant to make initial email contact with council CMP officer at CMP@TowerHamlets.gov.uk.

• Applicant submits a signed CoCP Checklist with CMP/SEMP to CMP Officer (min. of 40 working days before works scheduled to commence)
• Applicant makes fee payment online

Step 3

• CMP Officer provides information on payment of fee requirements and confirms receipt of fee payment. ONLY THEN will they engage in consultation on Checklist/CMP/SEMP/s61 application

Step 4

• CMP Officer coordinates the review and approval of all documentation with council teams. Requesting further information where necessary

Step 5

• Applicant updates CMP/SEMP documents in response to any review comments made by CMP Officer

Step 6

• CMP Officer countersigns CoCP Checklist once all documents are approved. Returns (signed) Checklist to Applicant for discharge of the CoCP Checklist condition.

Step 7

• Once agreed, the Applicant provides the countersigned CoCP Checklist and approved CMP/SEMP to the Development Management (DM) officer (planning team) to formally discharge the condition.

Step 8

• Development Management (DM) formally discharge the CoCP Checklist condition via written confirmation to the Applicant

Step 9

• Applicant may now, upon receipt of formal written discharge from DM, commence works on site.

Compliance and monitoring of the CMP and SEMP

Once discharge of condition has been approved, the CoCP Checklist, CMP and SEMP become formal commitments. Any deviation from the approved documents may incur penalty enforcement measures depending on the complexity of the change.

CMP officers will be monitoring construction activity throughout the demolition and construction period. This is to ensure that CMP and SEMP, planned measures and access/egress arrangements are followed.

Fees and charges (what is not included)

All major developments will be requested to pay a fee when applying to discharge the CoCP condition. This should be submitted at least 40 working days before work is scheduled to start on site. Tower Hamlets are unable to process an application until the correct fee has been paid.

• Highway Licences are not included and must be acquired separately before any work can take place, apply for a highway licence
• Terms and Conditions for various licences differ, please visit the highways section for more information
• Approval In Principle (CG300 Technical Review) applications for structural works next to the highway are dealt with separately to the CMP Service and are not included in the fee. Fees will depend on the level of assessment needed. Applicants are advised to provide development plans with accurate location (street names) and cross-sectional information for assessment by Tower Hamlets.

Fee schedule

Fees vary according to the size of major development. Schemes are graded from small (one off payment), medium to strategic (annual charge).

*Development sizes are subject to the CMP officer’s discretion (site location and complexity).

How to pay

• The assessment and monitoring fee can be paid via card and BACS. The CMP officer will provide the mechanism to make payment.
• Your payment card details are directly processed by the Payment Management division of Tower Hamlets Council.
• Fees charged are ringfenced to support the ongoing delivery of the CMP service.
• If you require further information regarding the payment, please contact us at  CMP@TowerHamlets.gov.uk
• Cheque payments are not accepted.