McCarthy & Stone prepares site reopenings

 McCarthy & Stone will start reopening its sales offices and building sites next week. The company’s offices and construction sites have all been closed since the coronavirus lockdown began. With some of the restrictions now being eased, the company said it will take a “gradual and measured” approach to a phased reopening from 8 June. The process will begin with restarting sales activities on completed developments. Building sites where work is close to completion will reopen next. New social distancing and other safety measures will be in place across all parts of the business. McCarthy & Stone also said it has secured £300m under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility initiative set up by the government and Bank of England. In a stock exchange update announcing both initiatives, chief executive John Tonkiss thanked the company’s property owners and staff for their “understanding and co-operation” in following guidance around Covid-19: “It’s been a difficult period, but there’s nothing like a crisis to show what we’re made of, and what we’ve shown is that our communities are made of much more than bricks and mortar.” To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette