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UK’s biggest house builder to reopen half of its sites
Barratt, the country’s largest private house builder, has become the latest major firm to announce plans to reopen some sites following a period of closures.
In a stock market update this morning, the organisation said work on a proportion of its construction sites would recommence from 11 May. Changes required under the firm’s new working protocol will be adopted on these sites.
Barratt will then start a phased return to construction, with expectations to resume work on 180 (50%) of its sites in the first phase.
The new protocol includes changes to signage, site welfare facilities and compounds, site access and walkways. A nominated ‘social distancing marshal’ will also be present on all sites to ensure policy compliance, while the organisation will also provide induction, training and support for employees and sub-contractors. These changes have already been adopted on one pilot scheme.
Several other major house builders – including Bellway, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon – have also recently announced plans to reopen a number of sites, following the implementation of new site safety protocols.
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The government has maintained throughout the coronavirus lockdown that sites can remain open as long as workers are able to follow social distancing measures.
Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC this morning about house builders reopening sites, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I think that’s a good thing, because that’s a lot of people’s jobs, including the self-employed, and housing is very important to us socially to a county as well.”
Responding to criticism that reopening sites was putting workers’ health at risk, he said: “There are some settings where I don’t think it will be easy for construction workers to return to site but there are also many others where the companies themselves and their employees think it is possible.”
Earlier this month, Barratt announced plans to furlough roughly 85% of its workforce as a result of the lockdown.
The house builder said a significant proportion of its staff will now be able to return to work due to the phased reopening of sites.
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