The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), has come out and said, the construction industry needs a green light from the Government, ensuring that sites can be re-opened safely as part of lock down restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The FMB issued their response to construction PMI data which was issued yesterday, Wednesday 6th May 2020. The data revealed the faster decline in output since the survey began almost a quarter of a century ago.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said:
“Today’s fall in construction output matches our members’ experience of the past few months. 96% of local builders have stopped work on site since the coronavirus hit the UK. They’ve been unable to access materials, including PPE, and it has been challenging to maintain social distancing rules on site that keep themselves and the public safe. 40% of clients have requested work to stop.
“To ensure a safe return to work, and fire up construction, the public needs a clear, and joined-up, statement from Government that indoor and outdoor construction is safe. Builders need guaranteed access to PPE, and we look to the Government to coordinate this, so that limited PPE is not taken away from the health front line.”
The FMB went on to say that the industry will require ‘essential’ support to recover in the long-term.
Mr Berry concluded:
“In the longer-term, construction needs a clear plan for recovery – something the construction sector is working towards delivering. This must include a national retrofit strategy that harnesses capacity in the SME sector to upgrade the energy efficiency of people’s homes. It needs to tackle poor payment practises in the supply chain to support growth. And it must boost local planning departments to help local house builders bring forward new homes more quickly.”
