Consumers short-changed by new housing

CABE's housing audit reveals that 82 per cent of new housing built over the last five years fails to measure up on design quality.

Consumers in England are getting a raw deal with 82 per cent of new housing built over the last five years failing to measure up on design quality.

The Housing audit from CABE presents the first complete analysis of the design quality of new private homes nationwide (a total of 293 mid-market housing schemes). The audit examines schemes from the largest volume house builders in the Midlands and South West, and integrates this analysis with data from the six other regions of England.

The results paint an unflattering picture: fewer than one in five developments was assessed as good or very good, and 29 per cent are so poor they should not have even got planning permission. In the Midlands, no less than half of new schemes are poor.

The audit shows family housing with no play areas, windows looking out on blank walls, poorly lit areas, confusing sites with no focal point, and broad expanses of tarmac. Design quality was assessed using Building for Life criteria, agreed with the housing industry and supported by government.

The government has made clear what it expects and new policy puts design quality at the heart of the planning process.

Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper commented on the launch of the report: \"Local authorities and developers need to provide the high quality new homes that people expect and deserve in every part of the country. Our new planning policy published before Christmas requires all local authorities to think about families' needs when planning new homes and ensure that there are enough parks, gardens and play areas. And since last summer developers are also required to submit detailed Design and Access statements alongside all planning applications for new housing. Local authorities must actively use these powers to insist on high quality and turn down proposals that are simply not good enough.\"

There are some exemplary schemes, which every developer has proved they can do. Levels of satisfaction are much higher among residents of well designed neighborhoods.

Zero carbon homes will require good design: instead of being forced into car-dependency, for instance, residents should be able to walk to the shops, school and the doctor. So things are getting better.

But at least two thirds of a million homes will be built across England over the next five years. If change does not speed up, large numbers of people will be living in low-grade neighbourhoods, and the public purse will bear the brunt of the social, environmental and economic costs of badly-designed homes.

So what needs to happen? House builders need to recognise that good design is no longer a choice. Planning consent and commercial success will depend on their ability and the reputation for delivering well-designed homes.

Local authorities need to make clear the kind of quality they expect, and move good proposals for well-designed homes through the planning system faster.

As for CABE, we have committed to make design training or guidance available to every planner and highways engineer in England. We are advising local authorities and developers across the housing growth and market renewal areas. We will use design review to influence every significant housing development, and we are supporting the expansion of regional design review panels.