Bouygues have joined a growing list of firms deciding to reopen some of their sites “where it is safe to do so” under agreed Site Operating Procedures.

Some of the company’s sites will now open with effect from today (20/4/20), after the company had originally taken the decision to close its sites at the end of March, just a few days into lockdown, saying it had “decided to close its construction sites to ensure the health and safety of our staff, supply chain and the communities in which we operate.” 

However, the company’s initial statement on 31 March also said: “We will continue to review the status of our sites as the wider situation evolves and will only consider re-opening them only if we are confident we can provide a safe and secure environment for work to occur.”

Now, after reviewing the guidelines, a statement from the company on Friday (17/4/20) said: “Having closed all Bouygues UK sites (except critical healthcare projects) on 27 March, we have extensively reviewed the Site Operating Procedures published by the Construction Leadership Council, and aligned with the latest guidance from Public Health England, to implement the recommended procedures for our sites to operate safely in the current Covid-19 environment.

“In agreement with our clients and supply chain, we have decided to re-open our sites from 20 April. To ensure we are adhering to the recommended Site Operating Procedures enforcing social distancing, sites will re-open progressively and will only be operating at reduced capacity over the coming weeks.

“The government has made it clear that the construction industry plays a vital role in supporting the UK economy and that, where we are confident we can safely operate our sites, we should do so.

“Safety remains our priority. We have been working in close collaboration with our staff, supply chain and clients to ensure work can continue safely.”