Award-winning housing solves parking problems with design

The Building for Life standard has been awarded to new housing developments in Cambridge, Plymouth and Deptford, each of which miminises the impact of cars.

Three new housing developments have been awarded the Building for life standard. Backed by CABE, the government and the housing industry, the award is the national standard for design quality in new housing.

The winning developments show how innovation in design and traffic calming initiatives, such as creating home zones, can work to minimize the impact of the car. From the top-end Accordia development in Cambridge to the mixed-tenure Gun Wharf in Plymouth and the affordable Pepys Estate in Deptford, they set the benchmark for volume housing developments in England today.

CABE's recent Housing audit and resident surveys revealed that most new homes were let down by poor parking. Only 46 per cent of respondents scored layout of car parking as 'good' or 'very good'.

Wayne Hemingway, chair of Building for Life points out that it is important to tackle the issue of the impact of cars on our streets.

'Each of these winning schemes is designed with consideration of how to store cars, not just park them. Cars are still part of most people's everyday life and we need more of this creativity and this level of thinking to ensure that new housing doesn't fall short of its potential.'