Hull based Walker Modular saw production rates slump to just 70 pods a week from normal levels of 850 when the coronavirus  lockdown started last month.

But as sites have gradually resumed work under strict social distancing guidelines Walker Modular has seen demand for its pods begin to rise again with 200 units due to be manufactured this week.

Managing director Shane Walker said: “We have seen some new orders come in recently and demand start to resume from build-to-rent and student accommodation jobs.

“The need for rented housing is not going to go away so it is vital that the supply chain for these projects is kept intact.”

Walker Modular  currently has 250 staff working and has been forced to furlough 400 others.

The company operates from five plants offering 750,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art production facilities.

Walker Modular works for a host of major contractors and clients providing a full range of offsite manufactured bathroom pods.

Walker said: “We will gradually ramp-up production as demand hopefully increases and get back to doing what we are best at – supplying sites with top quality pods.”