In a fresh statement on Wednesday, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said local planning authorities were now expected to approve requests to extend construction working hours temporarily until 9pm from Monday to Saturday in residential areas.

He said that firms could also work beyond this in non-residential areas unless there were very compelling reasons not to do so.

Where long or more significant changes to working hours were required, a formal application would be requested by the local planning authority, he said.

In these cases, applicants must consider potential impacts and, where necessary, put forward plans to manage concerns, drawing on existing good practice.

Where there were significant local concerns, councils would be free to reject applications seeking night or Sunday working.

But the Government said longer hours may be justified, especially if there were no residential dwellings nearby.