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Construction sector in talks with local authorities to extend site hours
Talks are taking place between the construction sector and the Local Government Association (LGA) to extend permitted hours for construction sites across the country.
In a statement Build UK, the body that represents the country’s largest contractors and sub-contractors, said it is currently “liaising with” the LGA, which represents all of the country’s 343 local authorities, in order to facilitate the extension of site hours.
It comes as house builders Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Group announced this morning that they are planning to reopen their sites following an initial period of closure during the coronavirus lockdown.
However, sector figures have told Inside Housing that sites are expected to be far less productive due to the enforcement of social distancing measures.
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The latest guidance for building sites, issued by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) earlier this month, states that face-to-face contact must be kept to a maximum of 15 minutes when working on site.
It came two weeks after the CLC was forced to take down guidance that said no work should be carried out on sites where workers could not maintain a distance of two meters, following backlash from the sector.
In addition to extending site hours, Build UK said it was assessing the availability of hotel rooms for workers living away from home during the crisis.
It said further guidance was also being sought from Public Health England on the use of personal protection equipment to prevent the transmission of coronavirus on construction sites, alongside the interpretation of the 15-minute rule.
