Northern Ireland). In England, working in the construction industry remained a reasonable excuse for employees to leave their home for work purposes and allowed construction sites to stay open.
The government s
COVID-19 Response – spring 2021 (22 February 2021) introduced the government s roadmap out of the third lockdown, explaining how restrictions will be lifted over time.
Industry and government guidance
Industry bodies continue to publish useful guidance to assist businesses dealing with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The seventh version of the
Site Operating Procedures (SOP) was published by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) on 7 January 2021. The SOP provides guidance on how to protect your workforce and operate sites during COVID-19. The changes are minor according to the CLC, including updated guidance on self-isolation and shielding and the removal of the requirement to display a QR code in site canteens .
Sea garden plans have been given the go-ahead from the council Plans for a sea garden in Silloth have been given the green light by the council. The application submitted to Allerdale Borough Council outlines a vision to provide disadvantaged groups the opportunity to enjoy being in a sea garden overlooking the beach and engaging in seaside reminiscence activities. The space is also planned as an as outlet for providing an outdoor space for school visits and activities at Silloth Dunes. The proposed garden would occupy an area previously used as a car park and would require only very minimal modification of existing intact dune habitat and will contain seating, timber decking and sleeper stepping stones with a native species planting scheme.
Country Life
Trending: A new country house in warm golden stone, by Neil Quinn of Yiangou Architects Credit: Yiangou Architects
When it comes to building new country houses, much of the focus is on substantial properties with 10,000sq ft or more. Arabella Youens examines the options for buildings that are more modest in scale.
Not all those with the budget necessary want (or need) to live in a 10,000sq ft house. Something half that size is generous enough to check off all the standard must-haves: enough space for entertaining, a large eat-in kitchen, a boot room, utility room and five bedrooms with their own bathrooms.
By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
A photo of the site in 2019 (Image: Google Maps) Councillors had to reconsider a planning application that was turned down months earlier because Enfield Council missed a key housing target. Planning chiefs admitted the only reason the plans were being re-examined was because the council’s failure to meet the Government’s housing delivery test meant councillors had to apply a “presumption in favour of sustainable development”. This means proposals should be approved “unless the adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”, according to national planning policy.
Urbanist Architecture sees surge in demand for rural homes
15 April 2021 |
London firm Urbanist Architecture has seen a 65% increase in demand for homes in rural areas due to pandemic
Multidisciplinary architecture and planning firm Urbanist Architecture has reported a surge in enquiries for homes in the countryside, a trend seen as a direct result of the Covid-19 crisis, with the practice seeing a 65% increase in this kind of request compared to Q4 of 2019.
The London-based practice is renowned for helping its clients achieve remarkable extensions, conversions and new build homes in the capital, and specialises in handling projects on constrained urban sites, listed buildings or those set within the green belt.