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(Alliance News) - Housebuilder Persimmon PLC on Friday said it will begin a phased re-opening of its construction sites, starting Monday, following similar announcements made by Taylor Wimpey PLC and Vistry Group PLC.
Shares in Persimmon opened 2.0% lower at 2,145.30 pence each in London. Taylor Wimpey was down 1.8% at 145.20p and Vistry was trading 1.9% lower at 794.71.
York-based Persimmon noted it has developed and tested a range of new site protocols to enable work to recommence.
Chief Executive David Jenkinson said: "The UK government has been very clear on the importance of the construction sector to the UK economy and its desire to see activity continue through the current period of crisis, provided appropriate public health measures are adopted.
"Having spent the last month developing and testing new site protocols that incorporate the necessary social distancing and protective measures, we believe that we are now able to return to site safely and support the UK's economic recovery from the pandemic. These new measures are fully compliant with government public health guidance and will be strictly enforced by a specialist team, with any individual failing to uphold standards being subject to disciplinary action and removal from site".
The FTSE 100-listed housebuilder also said it has achieved about 820 gross private sales in the five weeks to April 19, as its sales staff continues to work from home.
Cancellation rates remain at historically low levels, Persimmon added.
Persimmon has not made use of the UK government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff and has no current plans to access any of the government's COVID-19 funding programmes and continues to pay all taxes.
By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com
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