Construction leaders push to extend site working hours

Aaron Morby 5 years ago
Share

Construction leaders are in talks with local authorities about extending working hours as the industry battles to raise productivity.

Representatives from Build UK are now in talks with the Local Government Association to facilitate the extension of permitted working hours for construction sites across the country.

The talks come amid growing tension among subcontractors and main contractors about productivity and delivery deadlines for work packages on sites.

Main contractors are said to be trying to hold subcontractors to contract terms, even though they are expected to operate 2m social distancing during the coronavirus crisis.

One subcontractor said: “We are in an impossible situation, we are being told we signed a contract and have to stick to its terms, which is nearly impossible in terms of timely delivery using new site operating procedure guidelines.”

Contractors hope to use extending daylight hours to allow them to stagger workforce travel arrangements as well as raise daily outputs on sites.

Build UK is also aiming to help open up the supply chain by demonstrating the rising demand for materials after the initial wave of site shutdowns.

The industry body for main contractors and specialist trade associations is also seeking further guidance from Public Health England on the use of PPE and RPE to prevent the transmission of coronavirus on construction sites.

It is also asking for clearer guidance on 15 minutes’ face to face contact as set out in the Government’s guidance on social distancing in the workplace for construction.

Latest news

Wates inks £100m deal on first new-design prison houseblocks

HMP Onley expansion leads roll-out of new standardised design
2 minutes ago

£122m deal to unlock Newcastle’s last brownfield site

Land remediation funding paves way for 2,500-home Forth Yards neighbourhood
55 minutes ago

McLaren lands Heathrow logistics deal

1.6 hectare airport site to be transformed into modern warehouses
2 hours ago

McAlpine veteran to lead T&T’s project management drive

Former Olympic Stadium lead Mike O’Donnell takes lead role with focus on major capital project delivery
1 hour ago

IES snaps up Nexus Power out of administration

Utilities group strengthens expertise in 400kV jointing and offshore markets
2 hours ago

Thames Water tenders £120m water main rehab deal

Company seeks 2–5 contractors for London and South East renewal works
1 hour ago

Lower Thames Crossing to lead green planning reforms

New system to avoid another £100m HS2 bat tunnel
1 hour ago

Mace lands latest 30-storey City of London tower

85 Gracechurch Street near Leadenhall Market to be transformed
1 day ago

Vinci gets go-ahead for £250m Stockport 8 scheme

Contractor to start first phase of 435 net zero homes next year
1 day ago

£80m bid race to convert Oxford Debenhams into labs

Crown Estate advance plan to convert former six storey department store
1 day ago

Bennett steps-in to finish Guinness Covent Garden brewery

Original fit-out contractor Beck Interiors fell into administration
1 day ago

Work-to-rule set to hit Sellafield clean-up

Action by 1,500 construction workers across 34 contractors
1 day ago

Aureos breaks ground on £45m Howden Relief Road

Yorkshire road will pave way for 2,000-home scheme
1 day ago

Oxford United win green light for £150m all-electric stadium

Planners back 16,000-seat Kidlington ground with hotel, plaza and community hub
4 days ago

Demolition record as eight cooling towers come down

Watch Brown & Mason set record at Cottam Power Station
5 days ago

Hitachi Energy named for EGL3 converter station deal

Firm to build major HVDC converter stations in Aberdeenshire and West Norfolk
4 days ago

PAS NW secures landmark £20m civils deal in Lancashire

Groundworks firm wins infrastructure for 429-home Wain Homes scheme
4 days ago

Subcontractors wanted for jobs across the South West

Register now for latest Constructionline event in Bristol
4 days ago

Profits double at Octavius as road and rail work grows

Recent acquisitions add to turnover growth at infrastructure specialist
5 days ago

Quarterly construction output growth masks orders slide

New orders down by over 8% driven by fall in infrastructure and offices
5 days ago

Vinci UK swings back into profit after group restructure

£166m cash injected to strengthen building and facilities operations balance sheets
6 days ago

Staged procurement to make comeback as pricing risk bites

Developers turn to staged deals to control costs on big-ticket commercial jobs
5 days ago

McGee profit halves as project start delays hit

Revenue up 24% but profits fall on higher carry costs
5 days ago

Vistry to deliver 2,300 homes at Rugeley power station site

139-acre brownfield site has already been extensively remediated
5 days ago

Andrew Scott wins role on Swansea’s next big office build

Contractor appointed for detailed design of 800-desk city centre hub.
5 days ago

Knights Brown to start £29m Poole flood wall job

1.5km barrier to protect homes and unlock regeneration plans
5 days ago

Kier lands £16m first ECI job with Southern Water

Design deal covers nitrogen cut and UV upgrade at Hampshire wastewater sites
6 days ago

Watkin Jones seals deal on 200-bed student scheme

Bristol project will involve four brick buildings rising to seven storeys
6 days ago

Severfield brings in new CEO from Laing O’Rourke ranks

Everton Stadium job chief Paul McNerney to take the helm in the autumn
6 days ago

Balfour hits 3% construction margin target

Profit target finally reached after eight years
6 days ago