Housing developers in Cumbria have begun to suspend work on building sites to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Story Homes began the process of closing down its building sites yesterday, and closed its marketing suites and show homes with immediate effect.

A spokeswoman for Story Homes said: “Along with other businesses in the construction sector, we are continuing to adapt to challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic and adopting the Government’s advice.

“Our overriding priority is to quickly implement measures to keep our customers, our employees and subcontractors safe in these challenging and uncertain times.

“Despite the Secretary of State Robert Jenrick advising that ‘work on site can continue’ as long as measures around social distancing were adhered to, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily close our show homes, marketing suites and building sites.”

The spokeswoman added that Story Homes’ sales and regional teams are still contactable online and via the telephone.

National building firm Taylor Wimpey also began to shut down their building projects in Cumbria yesterday.

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: "We are in the process of closing down all of our construction sites across the UK in a safe and secure manner, to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

"Our number one priority is the health and safety and wellbeing of our employees, subcontractors and customers and we are taking this action because we believe it is the right thing to do.”  

Some closures will take longer than others depending on how much time is needed to make sites safe and secure.