PLANS to extend the working hours to speed up construction of a new Colchester Hospital building have been approved.

Proposals were submitted on behalf of MTX Contracts Ltd to extend the hours of work for on the site's new orthopaedic centre.

Work on the new £64 million medical facility, which will be the biggest in Europe, is underway.

However, according to planning papers, there have been "delays in construction".

A document reads: "Since the project commenced in March 2022, a significant amount of work has taken place.

"The building is due to open this year, however, there have been delays to the construction programme for various reasons.

"To address this, the contractor has introduced an accelerated working programme to enable the scheme to be completed as soon as possible.

"There is therefore a need for extended working hours to be facilitated until the end of the project."

Construction working hours have been weekdays from 7am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 6pm, with no work taking place on Sundays or bank holidays.

However, plans to extend the hours from Monday to Thursday have now been accepted.

Now, work will be between 7am and 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday. 

Documents say work between 6pm to 7.30pm will be of a "non-noisy nature".

All other times will remain the same.