Persimmon in opening of all its sales offices
Strict hygiene measures introduced
HOUSING GIANT Persimmon is to reopen its sales offices in England today following the publication of new Government guidance about the return to work amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The York-based firm said all of its English sales offices and show homes will reopen today with strict new social distancing and additional hygiene measures in place, which are fully compliant with the latest Government guidance.
Initially, sales consultations will be on a pre-booked, appointment basis only.
The firm said that its sales teams have worked effectively and efficiently to serve new and existing customers over recent weeks, making use of online resources, including virtual viewings and digitalised reservation processes,
The group said the health, safety and wellbeing of the public and everyone who works on its sites and in its offices remains its top priority and the group has adopted all of the Government and construction industry guidance on safe working procedures, as it progressively reopens for business.
In the weeks following March 25, when its construction sites were closed, the group said it worked closely with colleagues, sub-contractors and suppliers to develop and test a range of new protocols to enable work to recommence safely, in anticipation of a potential return to its sites and its sales offices.
The firm said it is this work
that has enabled a “swift and efficient” restart.
Persimmon said the ability to restart operations swiftly has been made possible by its decision not to furlough staff and to pay all colleagues in full throughout the shutdown period, without recourse to Government assistance.
It said that this decision has retained talent within the business and ensured operational continuity at site level, supporting both the introduction of new safer working methods and restart activity.
Persimmon began a phased return to work on its construction sites in England and Wales on April 27 and it said the process has progressed smoothly and to plan. During the week beginning May 4, around 65 per cent of production capacity was restored.
The group’s businesses in Scotland remain in shutdown, pending further guidance on a restart timetable from the Scottish Government.
In the eight weeks to May 10, the group secured 1,351 gross private sales reservations, with a total of 1,300 legal completions being made in the same period. Cancellation levels remain in line with historic trends.
Persimmon said it was pleased that whilst working within the bounds of social distancing restrictions, it was able to complete activity to ensure that no customers were left in a vulnerable position.
David Jenkinson, CEO, said: “We support the Government’s view that the housing sector has a key role to play in the UK’s economic recovery.
“The urgent need for new homes has not been diminished by Covid-19 and the new measures announced by the Government will re-open the housing market and allow people to get moving again.”
He said sales colleagues can now begin to return to site, but staff and customer safety remains the firm’s first priority.