The past five months have been very different from the previous 20 years of operation for Aqua Construction. Our sites were shut for six weeks and the majority of our staff were put on furlough while we planned how to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for the last four months, we have successfully got back on track with our developments programme. Staff began a phased return from mid-May, after we had put in place a raft of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our sites, developing new procedures based on Construction Leadership Council guidance and innovating new features for our business such as online site inductions.
Getting the Job Done
Aqua has been fortunate enough to commence works at a new site during this period, for 16 new affordable homes in Maisemore. This, and the five sites that were mid-development, were re-opened in such a way that staff and subcontractors could be spread across them and maintain social distancing. One-way routes were introduced on all sites and additional hand-wash stations installed.
June 5th marked Aqua’s completion of three new affordable homes at a site in Parklands, Quedgeley. Although this site was due to be completed at the end of March, we are thrilled to have been able to complete it so quickly after lockdown given the circumstances. As well as this, on 31st July, we handed over another development of three homes in Headlam Close, Tuffley. Both of these developments were built for housing association Gloucester City Homes and we are pleased to have been able to get these new homes completed at a time when the need for affordable housing will only increase within the area.
The Future
Aqua Construction continues construction works on four sites, two of which are due to complete in Autumn 2020. These are comprised of five affordable bungalows in Deer Park Road, Hucclecote and four further affordable homes in Lichfield Road, Gloucester. The development of 31 flats we are building on Sherborne Street in Kingsholm is due to complete in early 2021 and we have several other projects commencing imminently. Understandably, completion of these sites has been pushed back from original programmes, due to lockdown and the social distancing measures in place. But all staff are working extremely hard to keep our sites safe while operating efficiently and we thank them for their amazing efforts over the past few months and going forward.
