The Zurich-Schaffhausen Builders’ Association criticizes the communities. Home office has led to delays in construction projects and a delayed slump in public construction activity. The city rejects these allegations.
The authorities recommended working from home last spring because of the corona pandemic. This year it became compulsory to work from home whenever possible. Companies and municipal administrations implement these requirements. “In the spring of 2020, this situation led to delays in construction projects and a delayed slump in public building activity,” criticized the Zurich-Schaffhausen builders’ association in a press release. “In individual cities, construction activity has collapsed by up to 50 percent.” Key people could hardly be reached after the introduction of home office. Planning work, the publication of tenders or the granting of building permits have been severely restricted or even stopped for weeks. “These activities are epidemiologically problem-free,” emphasizes.
Key people reachable
The master builder association also attacks the civil engineering department of the city of Zurich in particular. When asked, he expressed his lack of understanding: “In November 2020, during the annual exchange with the master builder association, we explained that the investment and maintenance volume of the civil engineering office has remained constant overall since 2016.” Currently, the office is achieving its goals more than the long-term average through construction sites together with partners. The civil engineering department also points out that it is not the client in so-called third-party projects. “Despite our participation, we are not the sender of the submitted construction work in these partner builders and may not appear in the relevant statistics.”
In 2020, 117 projects were under construction by the civil engineering department, which is the long-term average. “In 2021, too, it will be within this framework again,” assures the city service department. In addition, the civil engineering department points out that with the expansion of the thermal networks in the city, a noticeable increase in the volume of construction work will come onto the market over the next twenty years. But even there, not all submissions would go through the civil engineering department, but in some cases directly through the district heating operators such as waste disposal + recycling Zurich or energy 360 degrees. The building construction department also rejects the allegations. It is a central platform for input, information and communication around the building application in operation. “There were no noteworthy project delays in building projects in the city of Zurich as a result of Corona.” Shortly after the lockdown began in spring 2020, the Office for Building Construction introduced corona project monitoring in addition to the usual building project controlling.
“The Office for Buildings has only postponed projects on a selective basis, such as work inside old people’s and care centers. This in order not to expose the residents and employees to the risk of possible infection. ” In the case of the other projects, construction work could be continued in compliance with the protection concepts.
Force pace
When asked, Gerhard Meyer, managing director of the Zurich-Schaffhausen master builder association, admitted that the allegation was addressed not only to the municipal civil engineering department but also to certain communities in the Zurich Oberland. And they spoke to the civil engineering department. But: “In order not to risk losing jobs on the construction site, we urge all municipalities to accelerate the planning of projects, simplify processes, advertise work and award contracts. This is the only way to support the construction industry. ” Construction sites should also be kept running wherever possible.
“Only with the active help of the authorities is it possible for the construction industry to perform its important function as a pillar of the economy and as an important employer in times of crisis,” said Meyer. The order volume should not be reduced under any circumstances, because unlike in spring 2020, the reserves at the construction companies have been worked up. Meyer: “A government-related slump in the construction industry must not be repeated in 2021.”
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