Construction on the CoLPAI site was temporarily suspended on 27.3.2020 as ISg (our contractor) advised that they were unable to fully comply with government guidelines in relation to the operation of constructions sites in response to COVID 19. ISg requested a period of time off site to review and amend its processes to ensure full compliance with government guidelines. 

ISg have now submitted a series of plans in order to demonstrate their ability to recommence works and comply with government/Public Health England (PHE) guidance.

The City of London Corporation will be closely monitoring compliance with PHE / government guidance and installing CCTV to strengthen this. 

ISg have undertaken that their operatives will use private vehicles and avoid public transport in accessing the site.

ISg have also been instructed to ensure the proper behaviour of operatives in the areas surrounding the site following previous concerns raised by residents.

The guidance for the construction sector as issued by the government has been copied below for ease of reference.  

We would like thank residents for their vigilance and reporting of concerns in relation to COVID 19 and the operation of the CoLPAI site. 

Residents and partners can report any continued concerns regarding compliance with the guidance below and construction on the CoLPAI site to info@colpai-project.co.uk

Best wishes,

COLPAI Project Team

GOV.UK COVID 19 Construction Guidance - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance#construction 

Construction work plays an important role in ensuring public safety and the provision of public services. It can continue if done in accordance with the social distancing guidelines wherever possible.

Where it is not possible to follow the social distancing guidelines in full in relation to a particular activity, you should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the site to continue to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission.

If you decide the work should go ahead, you should advise staff to wash their hands frequently using soap and water for 20 seconds, and especially after blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing, on arrival at work, before and after eating, after using public transport, and when they arrive home. Where facilities to wash hands are not available, hand sanitiser should be used.

You should still advise staff to keep 2 metres apart as much as possible.

You should plan work to minimise contact between workers and avoid skin-to-skin and face-to-face contact. Where face-to-face contact is essential, this should be kept to 15 minutes or less wherever possible.
As much as possible, keep groups of workers working together in teams that are as small as possible (cohorting). For example, you keep vehicle crews working together, rather than mixing crew members on different shifts.

Staff should also wash their hands each time before getting into enclosed machinery (such as diggers) with others, and wash their hands every time they get out. To help with this, you should consider adding additional pop-up handwashing stations or facilities, providing soap, water and/or hand sanitiser.

Employees should keep the windows of enclosed machinery or enclosed spaces open for ventilation and be careful to avoid touching their face at all times. The inside of cabs should be regularly cleaned, particularly between use by different operators.

You should try to use stairs in preference to lifts or hoists. Where lifts or hoists must be used, you should lower their capacity to reduce congestion and contact at all times, and regularly clean touchpoints, such as doors and buttons.

To protect your staff, you should remind colleagues daily to only come into work if they are well and no one in their household is self-isolating.

The Construction Leadership Council has published more detailed advice on how you might carry out government guidance.

Additional useful information for firms can be accessed on BuildUK’s website.