Construction industry representatives are in talks with local government authorities about letting sites stay open for longer to get work going again.
Social distancing, like on this Wates site, inevitably makes it slower to get things done
In normal times, local planning authorities put restrictions on the hours that construction work can be carried out, to minimise neighbourhood disruption and nuisance. However, for the construction industry to comply with government instructions for a) social distancing and b) keeping working, longer site hours are required.
Longer hours would enable work to continue in shift patterns, with a lower concentration of workers on site at any one time, and spreading the burden on public transport networks.
Build UK, which represents many parts of the construction industry has confirmed that it is liaising with the Local Government Association to facilitate the extension of permitted working hours for construction sites across the country.
This, together with trying to encourage materials supplier to open up again by demonstrating demand, is one of the key focuses of construction industry representations at the moment, it said.