Ad
Thursday, March 26, 2026

Strictest lockdown ordered but construction can continue

ADVERTISEMENT
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Construction sites can stay open as the prime minister last night ordered the strictest lockdown measures since March 2020.

In a televised lockdown announcement the prime minister, last night ordered all members of the public to stay at home until at least 15 February and to leave only for exercise.

The third national lockdown measures come into force from Wednesday morning with the government urging people to work from home wherever possible.

National lockdown guidance published online after the PM’s announcement states; “you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home, including but not limited to people who work within critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing that require in-person attendance.”

Tradespeople can continue as usual to work on and in other peoples homes while adhering to Covid social distancing guidelines.

Like builders merchants, scaffolding hire & sale yards have been classed as essential retail so are allowed to stay open along with food shops, supermarkets and pharmacies.

However, like schools, colleges and universities a number of scaffolding training centres will have to close. SIMIAN the UK’s largest privately-owned scaffolding training provider said last night “it’s training centres across the country will close from 5 pm today (5 January) and will remain closed until Government advice confirms they can re-open.”

Scaffolding Training at SIMIAN
Scaffolding training at Simian pre-Covid

During the lockdown, the government aims to roll out a mass vaccination program and vaccinate around 13 million people by mid-February and hopefully turn the tide on the pandemic.

The prime minister Boris Johnson said: “With every jab that goes into our arms, we are tilting the odds against Covid and in favour of the British people. And, thanks to the miracle of science, not only is the end in sight but we know exactly how we will get there.

But for now, I am afraid, you must once again stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”

Read the full National Lockdown Guidance published here

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Categories

Latest posts

Scafom-rux delivers Manchester’s tallest ground-based scaffold

In the heart of Manchester’s financial district, a major high-rise development is setting new benchmarks for construction scaffolding in the UK. For this complex...

Teen scaffolding labourer dies after fall through shaft on London site

A construction company has been fined after a teenage scaffolding labourer died in a fall from height on a London building site. Renols Lleshi, 19,...

Government launches consultation on plan to merge CITB and ECITB

The UK government has launched a consultation on proposals to merge the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board...

Robotics firm KEWAZO secures $35m backing to scale industrial lifting technology

KEWAZO, a robotics company focused on heavy industry, has raised $35m in funding to accelerate the rollout of its lifting robot across global industrial...

Pay gap pushing scaffolders from New Zealand to Australia

Construction firms in New Zealand are facing a growing shortage of scaffolders as experienced workers move to Australia in search of higher wages and...

Barking Riverside expansion approved to deliver up to 20,000 homes

Revised outline plans for the Barking Riverside development in east London have been approved by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, enabling a...

Beyond the Hype: Where AI Actually Delivers Value for a Scaffold Business

AI can draft a site report in seconds, but it cannot plumb a standard or assume legal accountability. Scaffold businesses operate in a world...

New data shows construction workforce becoming younger and more skilled

New data from the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) suggests the profile of the UK construction workforce is changing, with more young people entering...

Teen in coma after scaffolding accident on Fife housing project

A teenager remains in a coma after being seriously injured by falling scaffolding material while working at a housing block in Kirkcaldy. Brodie Thomson, 16,...

NASC gains formal role in CITB levy consensus process

The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has been granted Prescribed Organisation status by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), giving the trade body...

Latest news

Magazine

Spring Issue #29 | Past issues >>

Trending now ⚡︎

Teen scaffolding labourer dies after fall through shaft on London site

A construction company has been fined after a teenage...

Two taken to hospital after building collapse in Oldham

Two people have been taken to hospital after a...

Robotics firm KEWAZO secures $35m backing to scale industrial lifting technology

KEWAZO, a robotics company focused on heavy industry, has...

Teen in coma after scaffolding accident on Fife housing project

A teenager remains in a coma after being seriously...

Government launches consultation on plan to merge CITB and ECITB

The UK government has launched a consultation on proposals...

Related articles

Latest topics

Two taken to hospital after building collapse in Oldham

Two people have been taken to hospital after a...

Scafom-rux delivers Manchester’s tallest ground-based scaffold

In the heart of Manchester’s financial district, a major...

Teen scaffolding labourer dies after fall through shaft on London site

A construction company has been fined after a teenage...

Government launches consultation on plan to merge CITB and ECITB

The UK government has launched a consultation on proposals...
ADVERTISEMENTS