Boris outlines minimum space standards
The mayor of London has published a draft version of a new design guide for homes in the capital.
The London Housing Design Guide, which will be finalised later this year, contains 71 standards which will apply to all homes built on London Development Agency land. From next April, it will include all homes funded through the Homes and Communities Agency.
The guide includes standards for density, residential mix, number of dwellings. It also specifies minimum dwelling space and width of corridors and paths.
The standards also stipulate that every home should have storage space for bicycles, one space for a two bedroom dwelling and two for three bedrooms or more.
Minimum dwelling space ranges from 50 square metres for a single storey one-bedroom property to 113 square metres for a three-storey four-bedroom property for six people.
Mr Johnson said: ‘New homes in London are some of the smallest in Western Europe and this is indefensible.
‘I am determined to see a new generation of standards which improve London’s housing and we have a unique opportunity to deliver these now.’
The guidance is not planning policy, which is outlined in the London Plan, meaning it cannot at present be applied.
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Readers' comments (21)
Junior | 18/08/2010 9:28 pm
People to not want to like in cardbox boxes and want them very sound proof. Stop built Rabbit Hutches and remember people need storage space
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Junior | 18/08/2010 9:31 pm
Under the Law Space Standards which I used once meants a prisoner is entitled to 60 sq ft - It was under the Housing Law. Where they going to hang they hat and what is the saying no room to swing a cat comes to mine
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Melvin Bone | 19/08/2010 9:25 am
'Junior | 18/08/2010 9:31 pm
Under the Law Space Standards which I used once meants a prisoner is entitled to 60 sq ft - It was under the Housing Law. Where they going to hang they hat and what is the saying no room to swing a cat comes to mine.
Riddle me this...what are you on about? Short sentences please as my low intelligence is legendary.
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Harry Lime | 19/08/2010 9:40 am
I'm hazarding a guess but Junior might be getting his imperial and metric measurements in a twist? 50 square metres is considerably bigger than 60 square feet. 50 square metres is no palace, granted.
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WATT WATT | 19/08/2010 10:01 am
Needs to prioritise alternative to stud wall builds and laminate floors, no carpets. Neighbours can hear everything - instant neighbour disputes and ‘ rubbish ’ for mixed community living i.e. student trying to study, older person trying to sleep, downstairs ‘racket’ waking baby………
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Melvin Bone | 19/08/2010 10:17 am
Not sure you can legislate that someone MUST have carpet...
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Paine | 19/08/2010 11:32 am
Watt Watt, you make a good point as regards sound. As usual, much fuss will be made about the standards expected of the few thousand homes currently at design stage while the millions of homes which need workable retrofit solutions are studiously ignored.
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Chris | 19/08/2010 11:32 am
Not quite a return to the socialist standards for house building, where everyone was considered worthy of sufficient space and amenity to support wholesome and productive family lives, but definately a step in the right direction. Well done Boris - more socialism please.
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Harry Lime | 19/08/2010 11:38 am
Paine, I don't think anyone is studiously ignoring sound insulation on already built properties, I just think everyone accepts that the likely costs would be akin to Decent Homes - lifting floorboards, covering joists, extra wall insulation, replastering, redecorating. There simply isn't the money. If they can't afford to build new homes with millions in need they're hardly gonna fork out for noise insulation.
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WATT WATT | 19/08/2010 11:55 am
Harry - but surely it’s about quality of tenure and VFM for money too?
The major RSLs are styling themselves as “ creating thriving communities ” and making bids on back of same whilst putting families in to mixed tenure properties where known noise nuisance exists. There are plenty of tenants who complain about Noise Nuisance (not ASB - that’s different) from day one. This takes up time of Housing Officer with repeated home visits, form filling and tick box ( not VFM staffing cost, utilisation wise ) when ultimately the only real solution is good sound insulation. Today’s tenancies will be the ghettos of tomorrow if not dealt with.
Yes, there’s a housing shortage but to continue ignoring noise nuisance is short sighted and makes for instant noise disputes with neighbours.
You mention floorboard lifting - in the many Victorian plasterboard conversions, basic nailing down of floorboards and hard-boarding on top along with carpet fitting would have seemed practical. Let’s not forget, the rents on these particular properties increased enough to do this without a directive from Decent Home Standard - in other words some proper investment in the properties without being ordered to do so.
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