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Scottish government instructs all housebuilding to stop
The Scottish government has called on all ongoing housebuilding to stop as part of new guidance for the construction sector published in response to coronavirus.
The guidance, issued yesterday by the Scottish government, defines which construction projects are essential, instructing that all other sites should be shut down “safely and securely”.
Alongside domestic housing, other non-essential projects include work on schools, office buildings, leisure and retail.
Essential projects include the repurposing of buildings for coronavirus-related activities, alongside projects to house key workers or aid food production and distribution.
It comes two weeks after Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said that all construction sites in the country should close.
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The temporary closure of construction sites is expected to have a big impact on housebuilding in Scotland.
Last week, Scottish housing minister Kevin Stewart said the government was likely to miss its target of building 50,000 affordable homes by 2021 as a result of the pandemic.
The UK government is yet to instruct that housebuilding should stop and is instead advising that sites can stay open if contractors abide by social distancing rules.
However, the majority of the country’s largest house builders – including Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Homes and Bellway – have all announced over the past few weeks that they are closing sites in response to the crisis.
Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s economy secretary, said: “We recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses of all kinds, but the Scottish government’s priority is saving lives and fighting COVID-19.
“To this end, all construction sites should close unless they are essential to the health and welfare of the country during this crisis. I want to make clear our thanks to the construction workers who are continuing to work on these essential projects.
“In this public health emergency it is vital that all businesses act responsibly and align fully with the social distancing measures introduced to protect the nation’s heath, well-being and economic future.”
