16/05/2020 Archive
Barratt Developments to re-open sales offices and showhomes
Following the government’s latest announcementi that housing market transactions in England can take place again, Barratt Developments, the country’s largest housebuilder, will re-open its doors to customers on an appointment only basis from Thursday 21 May.
This move follows a phased restart of its construction sites this week with around 180 sites in England and Wales reopening – 50% of the total – with more planned to restart from the 25 May.
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 showhomes, 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 will be carefully re-opening our sales offices from next week.”
New buyers should contact their local sales office for more detail on specific developments and visit the Barratt Homes websites to book an appointment. For more information visit www.barratthomes.co.uk
ENDS
Note to editors:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-secretary-sets-out-plan-to-re-start-housing-market
Barratt Developments plc sold 17,856 homes in the year to June 2019, making it the biggest housebuilder by volume in Britain. Over the past seven years Barratt Group has increased its housing output by 40% - building more of the homes the country needs. Barratt is committed to building quality homes and this year received more NHBC Pride in the Job Quality awards than any other housebuilder and was awarded 5 stars by the HBF for customer satisfaction for the eleventh year in a row. For more information visit www.barrattdevelopmentsplc.co.uk
For further information, please contact:
Derek Harris, head of public relations
Tel, 020 7299 4873/e-mail, [email protected]
i https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-secretary-sets-out-plan-to-re-start-housing- market