Regional housebuilder becomes latest to reopen sites

Regional housebuilder Larkfleet Homes has announced the resumption of construction work on a number of its sites in Lincolnshire and Rutland.

Larkfleet Street Scene 1

The £75m-turnover housebuilder said it had developed a new set of site protocols for staff, contractors and suppliers to ensure its construction sites and sales suites are safe and comply with strict social distancing rules.

The firm said work had restarted at sites in Oakham, Spalding, Boston and Nettleham on June 1, with the business also trialling the reopening of show homes with transparent plastic screens to protect staff and visitors.

The largest listed housebuilders begun reopening construction sites at the end of April following an initial shutdown after the imposition of lockdown, with the government insisting construction work - in England at least - keep going despite the covid crisis.

Karl Hick, chief executive of Larkfleet Homes, said the firm was insisting that all construction site workers must sign and accept our Covid Secure health and safety guidelines.

He said: “We have continued to receive enquiries throughout the lockdown and believe it is vital to get construction sites working again. This is not only to satisfy pent-up demand, but to help kickstart the UK economy as a whole.”

The news comes after the business announced the appointment last week of former Kier Living FD Alastair Gordon Stewart as chief financial officer to oversee a growth strategy.