The firm admitted that it had proved difficult to achieve social-distancing on the Greenwich project and as a result around 160 workers had been stood down.

At the outset, Galliard chose to avoid erecting scaffolding around affected parts of the building to allow residents to continue to enjoy the Thames River views and have uninterrupted daylight. 

Its alternative method using mobile elevators, mast climbers and other powered access equipment was a slower more expensive method but less obtrusive. But it also meant that small teams had to work together on platforms, where appropriate distancing was not possible. 

Galliard also said that the lockdown, saw daytime occupancy of New Capital Quay rocket from normally less than 150 persons to almost 2,500.

The normal noise generated by machines and operations during re-cladding works also proved very inconvenient for those residents temporarily working from home.

Galliard’s 11-block site was one of the first to be found with ACM cladding after the Grenfell fire

Having completed two large buildings there has already been a corresponding reduction in the Waking Watch on the development, but of course the remaining Waking Watch provision continues, unaffected by the temporary stoppage of the works.

Galliard said as soon as the guidance from Public Health England changes then the works at NCQ could re-start without delay.

Early on in the coronavirus outbreak, the Government gave the all-clear for re-cladding tower blocks to continue as “critical to public safety” .

Although it left the final decision with the industry. Guidance said: “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.”