It is possible to carry out construction work, providing the following guidance is adhered to:

• Guidance for opening church buildings for works to the building and interior including by professional contractors
• Guidance for access to churches and cathedrals buildings for construction work

Comment

The new FAQ links to the two documents issued by the House of Bishops Covid-19 Recovery Group and dated 12 May 2020, which  were discussed at its meeting on 13 May, presumably. The guidance on opening church buildings includes links to many professional organisations which provide guidance for contractors on safe working practices and Covid-19.

• Guidance for construction work, (19 May)
• Guidance for architects and surveyors, (our link to RICS site).
• Guidance for archaeologists, (10 May).
• Guidance for organ builders, (28 April).
• Guidance for ecologists, (various)

The weekly Coronavirus (COVID-19) update on 14 May from the Dioceses of Oxford included new information for building and conservation contractors:

“DAC have received a number of questions concerning allowing building and conservation contractors back on site. The government published guidance on 11 May [Guidance: Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy; Construction update: Written statement – HCWS234, 13 May] that ‘construction work can be undertaken across England providing sites are able to operate safely in line with the new COVID-19 Secure guidelines’. Should the PCC, contractor and insurers be content, and if social distancing can be ensured, contractors are therefore able to return to site.”