The
UK Government is inviting views on a national minimum space standard as part of
its’ current review of Building Standards. The consultation is being promoted as part of moves to
streamline the welter of housing standards and regulations facing house
builders.
The
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said the administration
was inviting views on “minimum space and access standards that would allow
councils to seek bigger homes to meet local needs, including those of older and
disabled people”.
Essential
safety and accessibility rules will not be changed, DCLG stressed, but a mass
of additional and often confusing housing standards that councils are free to
apply locally – creating a patchwork of different standards – are proposed to
be reduced.
London
is currently the only area in the UK with minimum space standards. The
Government’s proposals, now out for consultation, involve scrapping more than
90 per cent of the existing standards – cutting them down from more than 100 to
fewer than 10.
Harry
Rich, Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) said:“This
rationalisation of local housing standards is important to ensure quality for
its consumers across the country and certainty for the industry. We are pleased
to see the government consulting on space standards. Our public research
has repeatedly revealed that space in new homes is a major concern.”
The
RIBA is currently running the ‘HomeWise’ campaign for the adoption of national space
standards and are urging the Government to go the step further by incorporating
them within the Building Regulations.
David
Orr, chief executive of National Housing Federation said:“We
were involved in the housing standards review because we want to see greater
consistency and clarity across standards for all new housing. For truly
sustainable new homes that will provide enough space for families to grow, have
low fuel bills and reflect local character and conditions we need strong
guidelines that ensure good homes are built, but without imposing needless or
inappropriate requirements. Moving from 100 standards to 10 is a good start in
reducing red tape while safeguarding good quality home building but we look
forward to seeing further details of the review.”
The
UK Government is inviting views on a national minimum space standard as part of
its’ current review of Building Standards. The consultation is being promoted as part of moves to
streamline the welter of housing standards and regulations facing house
builders.
UK Government is inviting views on a national minimum space standard as part of
its’ current review of Building Standards. The consultation is being promoted as part of moves to
streamline the welter of housing standards and regulations facing house
builders.
The
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said the administration
was inviting views on “minimum space and access standards that would allow
councils to seek bigger homes to meet local needs, including those of older and
disabled people”.
Essential
safety and accessibility rules will not be changed, DCLG stressed, but a mass
of additional and often confusing housing standards that councils are free to
apply locally – creating a patchwork of different standards – are proposed to
be reduced.
London
is currently the only area in the UK with minimum space standards. The
Government’s proposals, now out for consultation, involve scrapping more than
90 per cent of the existing standards – cutting them down from more than 100 to
fewer than 10.
Harry
Rich, Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) said:“This
rationalisation of local housing standards is important to ensure quality for
its consumers across the country and certainty for the industry. We are pleased
to see the government consulting on space standards. Our public research
has repeatedly revealed that space in new homes is a major concern.”
The
RIBA is currently running the ‘HomeWise’ campaign for the adoption of national space
standards and are urging the Government to go the step further by incorporating
them within the Building Regulations.
David
Orr, chief executive of National Housing Federation said:“We
were involved in the housing standards review because we want to see greater
consistency and clarity across standards for all new housing. For truly
sustainable new homes that will provide enough space for families to grow, have
low fuel bills and reflect local character and conditions we need strong
guidelines that ensure good homes are built, but without imposing needless or
inappropriate requirements. Moving from 100 standards to 10 is a good start in
reducing red tape while safeguarding good quality home building but we look
forward to seeing further details of the review.”