Contractors can keep sites open until 9pm as government floats idea of 24 hour working

By Joey Gardiner and Dave Rogers2020-05-13T17:00:00

Housing secretary tells councils told not to stand in way of requests for longer working hours

Construction sites can open until at least 9pm in order to keep building during the coronavirus pandemic, with the government suggesting some jobs could switch to 24 hour working in order to make up for time lost during the coronavirus lockdown and to help workers follow social distancing protocols.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick issued a ministerial statement earlier today which instructed local authorities to permit requests to extend site opening hours – usually controlled by planning permissions – unless there are “very compelling reasons” to reject them.

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