Category: Industry News

Scottish Construction Covid-19 Update

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS

Scotland’s construction sector can now restart work

The First Minister announced today, “From Monday 22 June, the construction sector will be able to move to the next phase its restart plan and then move through the remaining phases subject to ongoing consultation with government.” This allowing progress from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of the restart plan on Monday with Covid-19 Site Operating Procedures in place.

The industry-agreed six-step phased model for the return of the construction sector is:

  • Phase 0: Planning
  • Phase 1: COVID-19 Pre-start Site prep
  • Phase 2: ‘Soft start’ to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 3: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 4: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
  • Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience

More Good News!

Scottish Construction Can Restart Immediately

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS

Scotland’s construction sector can now restart work

The First Minister has just announced today that the construction sector can now move to Phase 2 of the restart plan, meaning Scottish Construction can return to work immediately with appropriate Covid-19 Site Operating Procedures in place.

The industry-agreed six-step phased model for the return of the construction sector is:

  • Phase 0: Planning
  • Phase 1: COVID-19 Pre-start Site prep
  • Phase 2: ‘Soft start’ to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 3: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 4: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
  • Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience

Good News!

Coronavirus/Covid-19: Latest Scottish Guidance @ 28th May

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS 
Scottish Guidance Issued/Updated Today

New & updated documents as of 28th May 2020 available to view/download direct from the sources below:

SAFE RETURN & RESTART (Guidance Book)
Expanded Guidelines to Underpin Construction Scotland’s Safe Operating Guidance
By Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum

CONSTRUCTION RE-START PLAN
 Guidance for the Scottish Construction Industry
By Construction Scotland

CONSTRUCTION GUIDANCE
Working on site during the COVID-19 pandemic: Construction Guidance
By Construction Scotland

This has been added to the Keenan CDM Covid-19 Construction Guidance page.

Scottish Gov’t Permits Site Preparation Work from 29th May

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS

Scotland’s construction sector can begin site preparation work from Friday

Confirming the Scottish Government’s plan for outdoor workplaces to resume as part of the first phase out of lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon said: “From tomorrow, the construction sector will be able to restart site preparation, that’s the first phase of its restart plan. It will be required to consult with further with government before moving on to the second stage of that plan.”

The industry-agreed six-step phased model for the return of the construction sector is:

  • Phase 0: Planning
  • Phase 1: COVID-19 Pre-start Site prep
  • Phase 2: ‘Soft start’ to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 3: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 4: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
  • Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience

In its newly updated COVID-19: construction sector guidance, the Scottish Government said: “Progress through these stages will be evidence-led and dependent on all parties working in genuine partnership. As an initial stage we are planning for the construction sector to implement the first two phases in its restart plan from 29 May, with a decision to move to ‘phase 2’ of the construction sector’s plan only after consulting with government to ensure it is safe to do so and in line with public health advice.”

Read this news in full at Scottish Construction Now

NOTE: This is basically just confirmation of the announcement made a week ago, with site still not authorised to re-start actual construction work on non-essential in Scotland.

Scottish Gov’t Plan for Phased Return of Construction

COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS

The construction sector could return to work on a phased basis from May 28 under a new framework announced today by the Scottish Government. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today: “The construction industry will be able to carefully implement steps one and two of its six-step restart plan, which it has developed with us“.

The industry-agreed* six-step phased model for the return of the construction sector is as follows…

  • Phase 0: Planning
  • Phase 1: Covid-19 Pre-start Site prep
  • Phase 2: ‘Soft start’ to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 3: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 4: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
  • Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience

(*Worth noting that today was the first time many of us on the ground have seen this six-step plan!)

Read more at Scottish Construction Now 21 May Article: Gov’t Outlines Phased Return to Construction.

UPDATE 22 MAY: Also read update on Scottish Construction Now 22 May Article: Further Clarity Sought.

UPDATE 22 MAY: ‘Phase 0’ and ‘Phase 1’ are approved so far per a Scottish Housing News article… “The construction sector will be instructed to implement the first two phases in its restart plan with a decision to move to ‘phase 2’ of the construction sector’s plan only after consulting with government to ensure it is safe to do so in line with public health advice“.

UPDATE 22 MAY: Also refer Brodies Legal update here: brodies.com/binformed/legal-updates/construction-in-scotland-the-latest-state-of-play