Central London is never finished. There is always construction activity going on, but no one should have to put up with excessive dust, noise or pollution while new buildings go up around them. Construction is essential. But it must be done responsibly. That’s why Westminster Labour is launching a public consultation on a major upgrade to our Code of Construction Practice (CoCP) – setting out a new gold standard for how developers must operate in our City.
The updated Code is a central part of our Fairer Westminster agenda, designed to protect residents’ health, improve air quality and ensure construction companies take real responsibility for their impact on our streets. These proposed changes go further than current industry norms and put Westminster firmly at the forefront of clean, safe and sustainable construction.
Why this matters
Construction in Westminster is a significant source of air pollution, accounting for 42% of PM10 and 22% of PM2.5 emissions in 2022. These fine particles contribute to heart disease, asthma, dementia and reduced life expectancy. They disproportionately harm children and low-income communities.
As part of our commitment to meet the World Health Organisation’s 2021 air quality guidelines by 2040, we need construction to clean up its act. The revised CoCP is designed to do exactly that. So, what’s new in the 2025 Code of Construction Practice?
A faster shift to zero-emission construction equipment
Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) such as diggers, piling rigs and cranes are one of the dirtiest parts of construction. Our new Code accelerates the transition to cleaner equipment by five years ahead of the London-wide schedule. This includes a clear roadmap to using electric plant wherever practicable by 2030.
This single change will have a major impact on local air quality and helps deliver our Net Zero 2040 ambitions.
Stronger rules on dust and air-quality monitoring
The current CoCP requires real-time PM10 and PM2.5 monitoring for Level 1 projects (the largest and most disruptive sites). The revised Code extends PM2.5 monitoring to Level 2 projects (medium-sized sites with noticeable local impacts).
For residents living near construction sites, this means faster responses to dust problems and clearer accountability.
Real-time publication of construction data
The proposed revisions introduce a requirement for all Level 1 and Level 2 sites (major sites and medium-scale sites) to provide open access to live noise, vibration and air-quality data, viewable via the council’s CNSM monitoring platform. This is a major step for transparency and means residents, not just contractors, can finally see what’s happening on their doorstep.
A tougher approach to construction waste and carbon
Construction and demolition account for as much as 50% of a building’s lifetime emissions. Our new Code strengthens requirements around the reuse and recycling of materials, obliges sites to provide accurate data during demolition and construction, and allows the council to audit waste targets.
This supports our emerging retrofit-first planning policy and is a vital part of cutting embodied carbon.
Greener hoardings across more sites
We intend to strengthen green hoarding requirements by extending them to all Level 1 and Level 2 projects (major and medium-scale construction).
Good-quality green hoardings can help trap particulate pollution, improve biodiversity and reduce noise; practical everyday benefits that residents will feel immediately.
Better management of the public highway
Residents should not suffer damaged pavements, blocked roads or poorly reinstated street furniture. The new Code strengthens requirements around:
- pre-construction condition surveys
- reinstatement of the public realm
- managing the interface between works and the highway
This improves safety and reduces disruption to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Keeping developers accountable
The Code is backed by a legally enforceable agreement between the developer and Westminster City Council. Developers pay for the monitoring service through the CoCP fee structure, ensuring the cost of protecting residents does not fall on council taxpayers.
We know that higher standards can mean higher costs for developers. But the development values in Westminster are high, and the council believes the risk of deterring investment is low. The benefits to our residents far outweigh the additional compliance costs.
Have your say
This is a public consultation — and we want as many residents, community groups and businesses as possible to get involved.
Your experience matters. Whether you’ve lived next to a noisy basement dig, worked on a construction site, or simply care about air quality and climate justice, we want to hear from you.