Housebuilder Persimmon has revealed it will begin a phased restart of work on construction sites, after spending the last month incorporating social distancing and protective measures
In response to the government’s objective of getting the construction sector back to work, Persimmon has followed the Construction Leadership Council’s ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ and Public Health Advice to ensure its sites are safe.
Persimmon said it was “keen to support the government in meeting this objective but the health, safety and wellbeing of the public and everyone who works on our sites and in our offices remains our top priority, and we will not recommence construction operations until we are satisfied that it is safe to do so”.
In the period since 25 March, Persimmon worked closely with colleagues, subcontractors and suppliers, to test a range of new site protocols to enable work to recommence, while ensuring that the necessary social distancing restrictions are enforced.
The group is announcing that it will begin a phased reopening of its construction sites from the morning of 27 April.
The reopening will allow Persimmon to support its customers by completing the construction of the new homes they have purchased in a safe and responsible manner.
New site protocols
David Jenkinson, CEO of Persimmon, said: “The UK government has been very clear on the importance of the construction sector to the UK economy and its desire to see activity continue through the current period of crisis, provided appropriate public health measures are adopted.
“Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety and wellbeing of the public, our colleagues, subcontractors and suppliers. Having spent the last month developing and testing new site protocols that incorporate the necessary social distancing and protective measures, we believe that we are now able to return to site safely and support the UK’s economic recovery from the pandemic.
“These new measures are fully compliant with Government public health guidance and will be strictly enforced by a specialist team, with any individual failing to uphold standards being subject to disciplinary action and removal from site.
“Persimmon’s strong financial liquidity has enabled us to maintain our operational capability through this period by supporting all our colleagues on full pay, which will allow us to reopen sites swiftly, and emerge from the shutdown well-prepared and ready to deliver the new homes the country needs, aided by our strong work in progress position.”
“The commitment from our colleagues throughout this most challenging period, both to the business and to the wider communities in which we work, has been exceptional and I would like to thank them all for their unstinting support.”
The group has also continued to offer its full support to its suppliers, including making forward funding available where necessary, to help them manage through the crisis and to ensure they are able to recommence supply immediately.
Persimmon continues to pay all supplier invoices in a timely manner, with 95% of invoices being settled within 60 days, in compliance with the requirements of the Prompt Payment Code, which Persimmon fully supports.
