Ministers are planning a change in the the law to override restrictions preventing builders from carrying out loud work on Sundays or outside normal working hours.

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It is hoped the move will give construction companies time to "catch up" on work as they start to return to site after lockdown.

Officials are also drawing up models to show to help decide what parts of the economy should be opened up first as Boris Johnson could start lifting some restrictions.

When Mr Johnson announced the lockdown on March 23, work on construction sites was allowed to continue if it could be done while adhering to social distancing rules.

However, majority of sites stopped as companies were not able to secure supplies, and workers became sick or had to self-isolate with their households.

Some businesses that have re-opened after shutting down over the coronavirus crisis were "never required to close", Matt Hancock declared on Friday.

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Large companies such as B&Q, house builders Taylor Wimpey and car makers Jaguar and Nissan have all started re-opening their doors as fears grow over the damage the economy is facing over the lockdown.

It comes as two in three brickies will go bust by June due to lockdown unless the Government steps in.

Small firms are facing site closures and supply problems while still having to pay overheads such as machinery hire.

Now, planned changes to extend the hours that construction sites are allowed to operate will be likely be followed by more measures to help smaller companies.

This is intended to avoid a repeat of the 2008 financial crash when "the brunt was borne by smaller builders and they never recovered", a source told The Sunday Telegraph.

The move could help boost confidence in that industry and encourage other companies to follow.

Some firms could stagger the start times of workers to have them avoid travelling during peak hours.

Contractors are becoming "increasingly concerned" that their contracts could be terminated if sites have not been re-opened by the end of May.

The source said: "Most construction contracts have a clause that if a sub-contractor stops work for two months the employer is able to end the contract … it is particularly time sensitive for this industry."

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Councils set permitted working hours when they grand planning permission and it often restrict loud work between 8am and 6pm during the week and 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.

Ministers are hoping to lift the restrictions to give firms a chance to work on Sundays and to work later hours between Mondays and Saturdays.

Councils set out permitted site working hours when they grant planning permission for developments. Often they restrict noisy work to between 8am and 6pm during the week, and 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.

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