The government has agreed every local authority should have the chance to adopt the capital鈥檚 space standards
London鈥檚 trailblazing space standards are to be extended to the rest of the country.
After months of behind-the-scenes lobbying, the government has agreed that every local authority should have the chance to adopt the capital鈥檚 space standards.
The news emerged as the government published its delayed housing standards review which also covers the security, accessibility, adaptability and water efficiency of new homes.
At the same time it launched a two-month consultation on what communities minister Stephen Williams billed as 鈥渁 radically simplified system鈥� which has been drawn up with the close involvement of Levitt Bernstein鈥檚 head of research, Julia Park.
PRP鈥檚 Andy von Bradsky also advised on the process.
It will be the first time the UK has had nationwide space standards for all new housing regardless of tenure. The Parker Morris standards, abolished in 1980, were only for social housing.
The space standards will not be added to building regulations but local authorities will now have the option of adding them to their policies 鈥渨here justified by need and subject to viability鈥�.
Developers will be able to argue on a case-by-case basis that they shouldn鈥檛 apply to a particular development.
The DCMS consultation said: 鈥淭he government does not consider there is a case for statutory regulation in this area. However, it does consider there is a need for a national standard to replace the many different existing space standards used by local authorities.鈥�
The standards on security, water and access are due to be adopted into building regulations next year, but only security will be mandatory.
Together the changes will end regional uncertainty and save councils and housebuilders 拢114 million a year while delivering high-quality housing, said Williams.
Park called it an 鈥渦nprecedented opportunity鈥�.
鈥淨uality is finally on the map. Government has opened the way for all new housing to be bigger, better, cheaper and simpler,鈥� she said.
Architects and housing charities had been concerned that London would be forced to accept watered-down space standards.
Alex Ely, who co-wrote London鈥檚 2010鈥檚 space standards, said: 鈥淭his is good news that the rest of the country is to be aligned to London.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been demonstrated that the London design guides have proved worthwhile and have noticeably improved quality of housing and have been generally accepted by industry. If it works in London it seems a useful benchmark to apply elsewhere.鈥�
But Gavin Smart, director of policy and practice at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said the improved space standards should be compulsory.
鈥淲e currently build the smallest homes in Europe,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are concerned that the government鈥檚 solution to set out voluntary standards for new build houses doesn鈥檛 go far enough and we would look instead for these to become mandatory to make real progress.鈥�
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