Following the government’s latest announcement that housing market transactions in England can take place again, Barratt Developments, the country’s largest housebuilder, has re-opened its doors to customers on an appointment only basis.
This move follows a phased restart of its construction sites last week with around 180 sites in England and Wales reopening – 50% of the total – with more planned to restart.
Locally, Barratt Homes North Midlands has initially reopened the following sites in Leicestershire: Wigston Meadows in Wigston, New Lubbesthorpe and City Heights in Leicester.
David Wilson Homes East Midlands has initially reopened the following developments: Fleckney Fields in Fleckney, Wigston Meadows in Wigston, Grange View in Hugglescote and David Wilson Homes at Kibworth on an appointment only basis.
The government announced this week that it had amended regulations to allow people to move home, with 450,000 people having put their plans on hold. Barratt has spent the last few weeks carefully designing revised protocols and procedures so that it would be ready to open its doors when given the green light.
To enable customers to visit sales centres and show homes, a range of safety measures and new working procedures which meet or exceed government, industry and public health agency advice have been put in place. These include protective Perspex screens, retractable barriers, strict social distancing and, where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE), plus intercom systems and door locks to enable customers to engage with sales teams before entering offices.
Customers will initially only be able to visit the sales centres and carry out physical viewings by appointment with one household visiting one property at a time.
Barratt has also signed up to the new government and industry Charter for Safe Working Practice – Covid-19, which supports best practice being adopted across the industry.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments, said: “We back the government’s decision to unlock the property market which will help to drive the country’s economic recovery. We are doing this safely with clear measures in place that protect our customers and employees. We are carefully re-opening our sales offices.”
New buyers should contact their local sales office for more detail on specific developments and visit the Barratt and David Wilson Homes websites to book an appointment. For more information visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk
[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-secretary-sets-out-plan-to-re-start-housing-market