An update from the Ministry of Housing,Communities & Local Government on Friday also reaffirmed current guidance for the entire construction industry.

It said: “Construction sites have not been asked to close, so work can continue if it is done safely.

“Employers should ensure their workers on-site are able to follow the public health guidance, and they should consider responsible arrangements for ensuring their workers can travel in line with this advice, such as through staggering site hours to reduce public transport use during peak periods.

“We will keep these arrangements under constant review and take any steps required.”

The update said that replacing unsafe cladding “remains a priority for the government.” It added: “The government’s view is that this work is critical to public safety.”

The update said a new expert team has been put in place to ensure cladding remediation continues where possible.

It said: “The government has now put in place additional project management support with construction expertise to help oversee remediation.

“The additional support will identify blockers to progress and work directly with those responsible for remediation to support individual projects.

“This new team will work with those responsible for remediation and the Department to understand the impact of COVID-19 on remediation projects and identify ways to reduce the impact on pace.

“It is, therefore, possible for construction work to continue in the current context.

“Those responsible for commissioning building safety work, such as the remediation of high-rise buildings with unsafe ACM cladding, and the construction companies undertaking the work, should consider how best to proceed and/or mitigate the risks arising from such work being paused.”

For the full announcement see here.