Construction bosses across Scotland have been told to “immediately” cease work on projects deemed non-essential as the country’s lockdown enters its third week.
The Scottish Government has warned the sector that the only building work allowed to go ahead must be essential to the welfare of the country in the fight against Covid-19.
All non-essential projects must cease immediately under the new guidance, which is in effect as of Monday.
The advice states the closure of construction sites will last until a method of carrying out work which is safe and “fully compliant” with social distancing protocols is figured out.
The Scottish Government says construction on the following sites must cease immediately:
- Domestic housing sites
- Schools, further and higher education buildings, and early years provision
- Leisure facilities
- Office buildings and other commercial properties
- Retail
- Warehousing
- Community centres
- Places of worship
- Garages and showrooms
- Civic buildings (non-health related)
- Public realm – hard and soft (including roads, footpaths, cycle lanes, pavements, parks, verges and grassy areas)
- Justice and custodial
The Scottish Government states these sites must “shut down safely and securely” – with security put in place. However projects which can be finished in a safe manner within five working days can be completed.
Building projects deemed key to the Covid-19 response include facilities being built or re-purposed due to the pandemic.
These include sites being built or adapted to house accommodation for key workers, or those used to free-up space “in facilities used directly in Covid-19 related activities”.
Work to fix and maintain “critical infrastructure” is also able to go ahead.
However even essential construction work can only be carried out if done so in line with strict social distancing protocols.
The guidance adds that building work is being deemed essential when carried out in support of one of Scotland’s 13 critical national industries (CNIs).
These include, amongst others, the energy, communications, transport, finance, defence, chemical, health, and food sectors.
Essential road and rail network repairs are going ahead, along with safety monitoring of these routes. Gritters will also be able to continue operating.
Emergency and urgent utility, energy, telecoms, water and sewage works falling under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 have also been deemed vital.
Scotland’s economy secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “We recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses of all kinds, but the Scottish Government’s priority is saving lives and fighting Covid-19.
Guidance for the construction industry confirms that all non-essential construction work should stop immediately.
Only construction projects that are crucial to the health and welfare of the country, and are deemed essential, should continue. pic.twitter.com/V2RZyO9PFH
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) April 6, 2020
“To this end, all construction sites should close unless they are essential to the health and welfare of the country during this crisis. I want to make clear our thanks to the construction workers who are continuing to work on these essential projects.
“This guidance offers clear and comprehensive advice on how the industry should respond in these unprecedented and difficult times.
“I am grateful to the STUC, Unite the Union and Construction Scotland for their input.
“In this public health emergency it is vital that all businesses act responsibly and align fully with the social distancing measures introduced to protect the nation’s heath, well-being and economic future.”
The measures will be re-examined in three weeks.
At a press briefing in St Andrews House in Edinburgh on Monday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the new guidance.
She said: “This guidance, which has been developed with Construction Scotland and the trade unions, maintains the Scottish Government’s commitment to the precautionary principle – that construction sites should not be open unless they are actively contributing to the health and well-being of the nation.”
