Construction work to begin again “when safe to do so”

By Gareth Jones, Newgate Public Affairs

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick gave today’s Downing Street Briefing, outlining the measures undertaken by local and regional authorities during the pandemic. Jenrick said the government has provided £3.2 billion to local councils during this pandemic and has helped establish local resilience forums, working in partnership with local authorities, which have delivered one million boxes of food and essential supplies to vulnerable people.

The Secretary of State then said his department is working on plans for how the lockdown can be eased, including work on "how workplaces can be adapted, how outdoor spaces can be managed and how public transport networks from tube to trams to buses can operate". He added that the government is considering how authorities can create more room in town centres for pedestrians. He stressed that every local economy would need a recovery plan for after the pandemic.

Jenrick then moved on to the construction sector, noting that he wants infrastructure and construction work to begin again "wherever it is safe to do so". Headded that the government has been working with local mayors in the UK to ensure that vital safety building work can resume, for example, to remove dangerous high-rise cladding.

Jenrick concluded by stressing it was the government's mission to ensure it helps people go back to work safely and to reunite friends, but noted that this week’s VE celebrations taking place on Friday would have to be marked from home instead.  

Today’s briefing came as there had been a further 649 coronavirus deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the UK's total to 30,076.