INL.L Regulatory News (INL)

18 May 2020

Inland Homes plc

("Inland Homes", "Group" or "Company")

COVID-19 update - sales and marketing suites to reopen

Inland Homes ("Inland Homes" "the Group" or "the Company"), a leading brownfield developer, housebuilder and partnership housing company with a focus on the south and south east of England, announces the reopening of its sales and marketing suites from 22 May to support its ongoing online and remote sales and marketing activity.

The decision follows the Government's recently updated guidance which removed the restriction on non-essential home moves and supported the return of activities related to the sale and purchase of homes.

The Group's number one priority remains the health and wellbeing of employees and customers. It is therefore implementing measures to ensure full compliance with the Government's Covid-19 Secure guidance. The Group has also become a signatory to the Home Builders Federation (HBF) 'Charter for Safe Working Practice'. The Charter is a public facing commitment which supports the protocols individual builders have in place to protect the health and safety of the home building workforce, visitors to site and the local community.

In order to ensure social distancing, visits will be by appointment only and limited to two people from the same household. Perspex screens will be installed on desks where possible and hand sanitiser, face masks and gloves made available to both staff and visitors as additional precautions. Show home surfaces such as door handles, worktops and white goods will be sanitised before and after each viewing.

The Group is using its website and social media channels to communicate to customers the changes being implemented.

Inland Homes builds homes in areas of high demand and structural under supply in the south and south east of England. To recognise the efforts of 'key workers' in this pandemic, the Company is offering a 'key worker' discount on home purchases. Inland is also pleased to be launching a number of offers on its home sales for all other customers.

Following reiteration of the Government's support for construction activity and in line with prevailing safety guidance, construction has continued on sites across the Group's activities where it makes commercial sense in the build progress to do so. This includes two cash-generative partnership housing sites under construction for Registered Providers. Three sites under construction remain closed and a decision about when and on what basis to reopen these sites will be made in the coming weeks.

As previously reported, the Group continues to receive approaches from small and medium sized housebuilders for the purchase of sites with planning consent and is likewise encouraged by the return to work of many of the major housebuilders. It also continues to be approached by housing associations and build to rent funds for bulk purchases of apartments under construction. 

Chief Executive Stephen Wicks commented:

"The revised working practices and safety protocols we're putting in place meet the Government's COVID-19 Secure principles and should reassure both customers and staff that their safety is our number one priority.

"Our sites are located in areas of high demand and acute housing shortages. We are therefore confident that we will see sustained demand for the high-quality houses and apartments we build.

"With these measures in place, we're delighted to be reopening and look forward to welcoming customers back again very soon."

Enquiries:

Notes to Editors:

Incorporated in the UK in 2005, Inland Homes plc is an AIM listed specialist housebuilder and brownfield developer, dedicated to achieving excellence in sustainability and design.

Inland Homes acquires brownfield land in the South and South-East of England principally for residentially led development schemes. The business then enhances the land value by obtaining planning permission, before building open market and affordable homes or selling surplus consented land to other developers to generate cash.

The Company is committed to extensive public and community consultation in order to ensure that, where possible, local community needs and objectives are met.

Inland's aim is to create sustainable communities and homes which set a benchmark for all future developments in the South and South East of England. The Company is always looking for brownfield sites without planning permission for future development.

For further information, please visit the Inland Homes website at www.inlandhomes.co.uk.

Hugg Homes - www.hugghomes.co.uk

Rosewood Housing - www.rosewoodhousing.co.uk