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Housebuilders will be allowed more flexible site working hours as the government tries to get the housing market restarted.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced that housebuilders will be permitted to request staggered arrival times from councils to ease pressure on local transport.
Meanwhile, local authorities and developers will be able to publicise planning applications through social media instead of having to rely on posters and leaflets to help get the service moving again.
A new charter has also been launched by the government and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) helping construction sites to reopen in line with the latest health and safety guidance.
The Safe Working Charter aims to complements guidance available from the Construction Leadership Council on reducing the risk of infection onsite.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “Over the past week or so many house builders have commenced a gradual return to work, in a structured way that ensures the safety of its workforce and the general public.
“The industry sustains hundreds of thousands of people in numerous roles and associated sectors, boosting local economies across the country. A resumption of work will play a major part in helping the economy recover as well as delivering the homes the country needs.
“It should also provide the supply chain with the confidence it needs to accelerate its own restart. The Charter is the public facing evidence which supports the very detailed protocols individual builders now have in place to ensure safe working on sites.”
