- Limited number of staff to return to City Hall from Thursday, July 30
- Building to remain closed to the public
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today said that a limited number of Greater London Authority (GLA) staff will be able to return to City Hall from the end of July.
City Hall, the home of the GLA and the London Assembly, has been closed since just before the country went into lockdown in March.
For the last 18 weeks, London Assembly members and GLA staff have been working remotely.
City Hall is now close to being declared Covid-secure, in line with government guidelines, and a limited number of staff will be able to return from Thursday, July 30. The building will have a maximum initial capacity of just over 200 people to ensure social distancing, with two metres between desks, one way systems in place, and an enhanced cleaning and hygiene regime. This will be reviewed again at the end of August. The building will remain closed to the public.
City Hall will open in a controlled way with priority given to members of staff who are struggling with their own working at home arrangements. This will include staff who are working in cramped, busy homes, who are feeling lonely or isolated or those who - because of the nature of their work - need to be around others for support.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Like so many businesses and organisations, the Coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way that the Greater London Authority works.
“For four months, our staff have worked tirelessly from their homes to keep the city running, many with difficult domestic circumstances.
“We are nowhere near able to allow everyone back into City Hall and home working is going to continue for the majority of staff, but a number of GLA staff and officials, particularly those struggling with home arrangements, will now be able to return to City Hall in a safe and Covid-secure manner.
“We will do all we can to encourage staff to walk or cycle where possible and if they need to use public transport, to travel at off-peak times and wear a face covering.”