New Survey Reveals 94% of Contractors Believe Implementation of Social Distancing Will Lead to Delays in Completions

Research from international property and construction consultancy Gleeds has revealed the ways in which Covid-19 is changing the face of the construction industry. The business’ Autumn Market Report surveys main contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, and colleagues operating in the UK construction market. It found that two thirds of contractors will seek to incorporate modern methods of construction (MMC) on future projects as a direct result of the pandemic, with 35% reporting an increase in the use of MMC during 2020.

Almost all of the contractors questioned (94%), suggest that the implementation of required social distancing measures will lead to delays in project completion, with 10% believing that delivery schedules could be delayed by over 20%. This could explain the desire to expedite the adoption of MMC on future schemes which would not only help to improve the quality and predictability of delivery, but also potentially reduce the need for the presence of a considerable labour force on site.

A reduction in manpower would be particularly useful in addressing the fears of the 30% of respondents who are concerned that implementing Covid-19 safe distancing measures will be more difficult during the winter months. Some sites had been using marquees or similar over the summer in a bid to extend usable outside space, however these solutions will be unviable in poor weather. It follows, therefore, that there may be a further impact upon productivity, with many in the industry believing that site output will not reach 100% until social distancing is fully relaxed and labour on site is at full capacity.

The Marketing to Contractors & Housebuilders feature (which is sponsored by South East Construction Expo) in the Sectors section of our Directory provides an overview of the sector, including
details of its various media channels and events, together with access to our downloadable database of those with responsibility for procurement at key firms.

One positive to emerge from the pandemic is the apparent commitment to more collaborative ways of working. 71% of respondents from Gleeds’ previous Market Report thought that a more adversarial approach to contracts was inevitable going forward. That figure has dropped by 30% this time round, with only 41% of respondents noticing a more adversarial attitude over the quarter. It would appear that many in the industry are taking a longer-term view, recognising the importance of supply chain stability and smarter, more collaborative procurement to achieve better project outcomes.

Douglas McCormick, Executive Chairman at Gleeds UK, said of the findings, “Over the past seven months there has been a conscious, collaborative drive to keep things moving. Our research shows that the construction industry has stood firm in the face of adversity, ensuring cost-efficient shut-down and reopening of sites; turning to innovative construction approaches, such as modern methods of construction (MMC); and maximising the use of digital tools, supporting revised site health and safety procedures. Despite best efforts, construction programmes have inevitably been extended due to the impact of COVID-19 and contractors are having to find alternative ways of working in response to social distancing measures, which may be tested during the winter months.

“As we move forwards, the buildings we construct today will embody the resilience demonstrated during the pandemic. Flexible for adaptation to alternative uses, innovative in design from the outset, and future-proofed with the needs of their occupants at the heart.”

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