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| Coronavirus: Construction firms split as shutdown calls grow | Coronavirus: Construction firms split as shutdown calls grow |
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| A growing number of construction companies have said they will stop all essential work to help fight the coronavirus, but others continue to operate amid confusion over the government's advice. | A growing number of construction companies have said they will stop all essential work to help fight the coronavirus, but others continue to operate amid confusion over the government's advice. |
| Housebuilder Persimmon has joined other housebuilders in promising to down tools, while the High Speed 2 rail project has stopped most work. | |
| But FTSE 250 listed Redrow is among those keeping sites open. | But FTSE 250 listed Redrow is among those keeping sites open. |
| There is concern the virus will spread easily on busy construction sites. | There is concern the virus will spread easily on busy construction sites. |
| The government has said work can continue so long as people are 2m (6.5ft) apart, but critics say this is impossible to enforce, and that public health should come first. | The government has said work can continue so long as people are 2m (6.5ft) apart, but critics say this is impossible to enforce, and that public health should come first. |
| On Tuesday Taylor Wimpey, which builds over 10,000 homes a year, said it was closing all of its sites "because we believe it is the right thing to do". | On Tuesday Taylor Wimpey, which builds over 10,000 homes a year, said it was closing all of its sites "because we believe it is the right thing to do". |
| Barratt, meanwhile, said it would close 400 sites and offices to prioritise "the health and safety of customers and employees". | Barratt, meanwhile, said it would close 400 sites and offices to prioritise "the health and safety of customers and employees". |
| Persimmon said it would stop all but essential work, such as ensuring partly-built homes were safe. But rivals said it was largely business as usual. | Persimmon said it would stop all but essential work, such as ensuring partly-built homes were safe. But rivals said it was largely business as usual. |
| "Aligned to government guidelines, construction activity continues across each of our active sites under extensive health and safety protocols," said Cairn Construction, which built 2,200 homes last year. | "Aligned to government guidelines, construction activity continues across each of our active sites under extensive health and safety protocols," said Cairn Construction, which built 2,200 homes last year. |
| On Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said any worker who could not do their job from home should go to work to "keep the country running". | On Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said any worker who could not do their job from home should go to work to "keep the country running". |
| But Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, told ITV only construction workers doing jobs "critical to the economy" should go in. | But Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, told ITV only construction workers doing jobs "critical to the economy" should go in. |
| He added that builders should not be going into people's homes. | He added that builders should not be going into people's homes. |
| Former Tory cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith joined those calling for a pause to all non-essential work, telling BBC Two's Newsnight: "I think the balance is where we should delete some of those construction workers from going to work and focus only on the emergency requirements." | Former Tory cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith joined those calling for a pause to all non-essential work, telling BBC Two's Newsnight: "I think the balance is where we should delete some of those construction workers from going to work and focus only on the emergency requirements." |
| Andy Burnham, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, told the programme the decision to allow non-essential work appeared to have been made for "economic reasons". | Andy Burnham, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, told the programme the decision to allow non-essential work appeared to have been made for "economic reasons". |
| "When you're in the middle of a global pandemic, health reasons alone really should be guiding all decision-making," he said. | "When you're in the middle of a global pandemic, health reasons alone really should be guiding all decision-making," he said. |
| Some construction workers told the BBC they feel "angry and unprotected" going to work, while others are under pressure from employers to go in. | Some construction workers told the BBC they feel "angry and unprotected" going to work, while others are under pressure from employers to go in. |
| Many are self-employed and fear that they could lose income if their employers shut down. | Many are self-employed and fear that they could lose income if their employers shut down. |
| Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised help for the self-employed in "the coming days" but said coming up with a plan had proved "incredibly complicated". | Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised help for the self-employed in "the coming days" but said coming up with a plan had proved "incredibly complicated". |