Following the publication of the UK Housing Secretary’s Housing Market ReStart and Safe Working Charter updates, leading volume housebuilder Weston Homes has unveiled its plans to reopen the company’s marketing suites and showhomes to the general public on 14 May, at developments across London and the Home Counties, with new anti-Coronavirus safeguarding and social distancing procedures in place.

Weston Homes have some 7,000 new homes with a GDV of £3 billion under development, or in the planning pipeline, and are currently marketing over 1,000 new homes for sale across London and the Home Counties, including one, two and three bedroom apartments and four and five bedroom houses, at prices starting from £172,000 sold through marketing suites and dressed showhomes.

At part of the government’s Housing Market ReStart and Safe Working Charter updates, sales staff will return to work the marketing suites today to prepare, and the suites and showhomes will reopen to the public on the 14 May, with new safeguarding procedures in place.

When the Weston Homes marketing suites and showhomes open on the 14 May there will be detailed anti-Coronavirus safeguarding and social distancing procedures in place, based on guidance from the Construction Industry Council and the Housing Secretary’s ReStart and Safe Working Charter guidelines.

Weston Homes highlight that the majority of their marketing suites are in excess of 3,000 sqft in size, with spacious reception foyers with high ceilings, roomy seating areas and separate breakout rooms – providing ample space for social distancing. Each development now has individual detailed anti-Coronavirus safeguarding procedures to ensure the welfare of visitors and staff on site.

Under new anti-coronavirus safeguarding procedures buyers are encouraged to contactWeston Homes and schedule an appointment to visit the marketing suites and showhomes. As per the new guidelines appointments will be focused around off-peak commuter travel times and a minimal number of people attending the visits to assist with social distancing.

At the point-of-entry to the marketing suites face masks, gloves and hand sanitiser are available and signage highlights the two metre social distancing guidelines in place.

The large marketing suites enable buyers to liaise with the sales agents from the recommended two metre distance and review plot locations, apartment/townhouse floorplans and specification options with comfort and peace of mind.

In the showhomes and view units a tour has the benefit of being “contactless” meaning that all the doors and selected cupboards are open and the lights are turned on so that buyers do not need to touch anything. Whilst a buyer is having a tour of a property the sales agent will wait outside the property to assist with health safeguarding.