Property developers have breathed a collective sigh of relief at a compromise over noisy weekend construction work in the City of London, after a months-long public consultation that could have resulted in big office projects falling behind schedule.

Under City rules, loud construction work — which includes the use of power tools, loading of heavy materials and moving scaffolding and cranes — has been allowed to take place on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm. Those hours will now change to 9am-2pm.