Scottish building industry can lead ‘economic recovery’ from Covid-19

Scotland’s building industry chiefs say the sector can lead the country’s “economic recovery” from Coronavirus lockdown after Nicola Sturgeon gave the green light for activity to resume.

The First Minister said yesterday that the industry can now move to the next phase of its “restart plan” after the past fortnight has seen preparatory work on building sites get under way.

It came as the rate of infection in Scotland – known as the “R” number – fell, with estimated cases round the country affecting less than 0.1 per cent of the population.

There was another fall in hospital cases to 909, with just five deaths recorded in the previous day, Ms Sturgeon revealed.

The return of the construction will mean good news for thousands of Scots waiting to move into new homes with completion of these having effectively been put on hold for the past two months.

Ms Sturgeon said the shift to the next step of its restart plan was always envisaged as part of phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s route map out of lockdown.

She added: “Moving to the next step of the industry plan will now allow workers to return to construction sites gradually, while using measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene to ensure that they can do so safely.

“I am very grateful to the sector and trade unions for the very responsible approach that they have taken during an incredibly difficult time.

“It’s important to be very clear though, that we still have a long way to go before construction will be working at full capacity, but there is no doubt this is a significant step in allowing an important industry to return safely to work.”

Vaughan Hart, Managing Director of Scottish Building Federation (SBF), said he was “delighted” that work can get underway again.

He added: “Both individual members and the industry as whole have been working tirelessly with unions, clients and professional bodies to ensure we only reopen sites when we can make it safe to do so. I believe that work has paid off and a number of sites will now be ready to begin work again on Monday.

“I would like to thank our members for the professional way they are working during this difficult time, and we look forward to the construction sector being at the forefront of the economic recovery whilst ensuring we protect our valuable teams on site.”

More than 2,000 individuals and families could benefit from the extension of the 
Scottish Government’s Help to Buy initiative, which the Scottish Government has announced will now run until March 2022.

The scheme has already helped buyers – particularly those aged 35 and under – purchase more than 17,000 new-build homes, housing minister Kevin Stewart said.

It is now being extended into 2021-22 with £55 million of funding, on top of the £50m being provided for this year.

The recent lockdown has mean that all construction must be halted unless it was work on NHS-related buildings.

Scottish Conservative housing spokesman Graham Simpson said the announcement on housing was “long overdue”.

But he added: “It is good news that she has finally seen sense and agreed to allow construction sites to reopen.

“This follows sustained pressure from the Scottish Conservatives and exasperated home buyers, 6,000 of whom were waiting for houses that were very nearly complete. The delay has been baffling and not founded on any reasoning at all, other than to be different.

“The construction industry has had safe working plans in place for weeks – now we can look forward to seeing them put into practice.”