CORONAVIRUS has put back the development of a new Kinver housing estate by around eight weeks.

Elan Homes is currently building 45 new executive homes at The Hyde which were due to be released for sale in April, with the first properties ready to move into by late summer.

The COVID-19 outbreak, however, saw construction suspended across all of Elan's developments from March 27, with sales offices and show homes also closed from that date.

Building work across the company's sites resumed on May 11 and Elan was set to begin re-opening its sales offices this week with social distancing measures in place.

The independent homebuilder said offices would be re-opening by appointment from today (Monday June 1) and that new homes at The Hyde would be available to buy off plan from Monday June 8 via its Stableford development in Worcester.

A spokesman confirmed the building programme at The Hyde had been put back by around eight weeks due to the coronavirus crisis and she added: "Sales will launch off plan from June 8 via Stableford, on an appointment only basis and a show home is due to open on site at the end of August."

In advance of appointments, customers will be asked to complete a COVID-19 questionnaire and will be advised of Elan’s procedures which will see documents shared digitally and signed electronically.

Tracey Ball, sales director for Elan Homes in the Midlands, said: "We’ve adapted our way of working, demonstrating our range of new homes via remote video technology and 3D virtual tours."

Screens have also been installed in front of the desks of sales executives, stickers placed on the floor to prompt social distancing and furniture repositioned to keep customers and staff two metres apart.

Hand sanitiser will also be provided and cleaning carried out between appointments, and customers will be asked to wait in their car until called into the marketing suite by a sales executive.

Marie Morris, sales director for Elan Homes in the North, said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, customers and the wider community is important to us and is why we’ve been hard at work planning for the new normal, developing robust procedures to enable the safe return to work for our teams and the reopening of our sites. Following the latest announcements from the Government our construction teams and contractors are now back at work in reduced numbers and with additional safety precautions in place.”

The development at The Hyde will comprise a mix of two, three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached homes, including bungalows.