Plans to close construction sites
Source – Construction News
The government has insisted it has no plans to close construction sites, amid ongoing calls from politicians and many members of the public for them to be closed.
An email, seen by Construction News, from a senior prime ministerial adviser said the government is not closing construction sites nor is it encouraging them to. Number 10 said that, although the situation is developing, there are no plans to force sites to halt works.
CN understands the government will soon publish further guidance explaining to companies how they can operate sites where the two-metre distancing may not be possible, an issue put forward by a number of industry figures.
Federation of Master Builders chief executive Brian Berry said today: “Most FMB members have already taken the lead and ceased the majority of their work. It is almost impossible to follow Public Health England’s social distancing advice on many sites, and it would therefore be safer to close them.”
Jeremy Corbyn yesterday attacked Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions for failing to announce any restrictions to construction work since he ordered a national lockdown. The Labour leader questioned why non-essential construction work was continuing in the UK. Nicola Sturgeon and Sadiq Khan have also called for sites to close.
Many companies and projects, including HS2 and Crossrail, have halted most or all of their works, but others including Balfour Beatty, Willmott Dixon and Sisk are continuing operations on sites and say they are able to comply with the Construction Leadership Council’s new procedures for worker safety.
Contractors revealed to CN yesterday how they have faced a public backlash as sites continue to operate following the national lockdown. Construction workers are being heckled from the street and are receiving abuse on social media following national media coverage of active projects.
Italy has banned many types of construction activity under new, more stringent measures introduced since the weekend.
A UK Government spokesperson said: "Certain jobs require people to travel to their place of work – for instance if they operate machinery, work in construction or manufacturing, or are delivering front line services.
"If you cannot work from home then you can travel to work, provided you are well and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating. This is consistent with advice from the chief medical officer."