Record number of Building for Life standards points to rise in housing quality

A total of 36 new housing schemes have qualified for a Building for Life standard, the national standard for well designed homes and neighbourhoods. This is a third more than last year and a record in the seven years of the awards.

Despite the difficult market conditions, the percentage of schemes that achieved the standard rose from 19 per cent of the 125 Building for Life award entries in 2008, to 44 per cent of the 81 entries in 2009.

To achieve a standard, schemes are assessed against the 20 Building for Life criteria for functional, attractive and sustainable housing.  Successful schemes need to score more than 14 out of 20 for a silver standard and 16 out of 20 for a gold standard, with 12 gold and 24 silver standards achieved this year.

The 36 schemes that achieved a standard are now on a shortlist for a Building for Life award. Organised by CABE and the Home Builders Federation, the awards will be announced on 2 December 2009 by Rt Hon John Healey MP, Minister for Housing and Planning.

This year’s entries have a good regional spread of standard winning schemes, with every English region except the East Midlands gaining at least one standard, and London schemes gaining 19.

The schemes vary in size and type, from a special needs housing scheme in London that responds well to its site and surrounding buildings, to a hospital conversion that retains its unique character as two bedroom cottages.

Wayne Hemingway MBE, designer and chair of Building for Life said:

‘We’re seeing a year on year rise in good quality housing schemes entered for the Building for Life awards. But there’s still a long way to go. Building for Life is the best way for everyone to understand design quality on the same terms, so the goal of seeing good ordinary homes everywhere can become a reality.’

Stewart Baseley, Executive chairman at HBF said:

‘It is important that we recognise and reward high quality design and the efforts being made by housebuilders - which is exactly why Building for Life was developed. Developers are continually striving to improve design and, especially in these challenging economic times, we should celebrate this achievement.’

2009 standards

Gold standards 2009

• Admiralty Quarter (South East)
• Angel Waterside (London)
• Banks Yard (London)
• Chimney Pot Park (North West)
• Printworks (London)
• East Central Rochdale HMR (North West)
• Highbury Square (London)
• Hornsey Road Baths (London)
• Lime Tree Square (South West)
• New Housing at Cross Street South (West Midlands)
• Queensbridge Quarter (London)
• Stadthaus (London)

Silver standards 2009

• Ashton-Under-Lyne (West End Phase 4) (North West)
• Bateman Mews (London)
• Canklow Woods Housing Development (Yorkshire and Humber)
• Church Street (London)
• City Quarter (London)
• Curwen Apartments (London)
• East End Community Village (South West)
• Geoff Marsh Court (London)
• Grand Union Place (London)
• Grange Road (South East)
• Granville, New Homes (London)
• Grover Close (East of England)
• Hirst Gardens (North West)
• Imperial Wharf (London)
• Ledbury Cottage Hospital (West Midlands)
• Norfolk Park Green Homes (Yorkshire and Humber)
• Pepys (London)
• Rivers Gate Walker (North East)
• St Paul’s Place (East of England)
• Stone Rise, Dulcie Close (South East)
• Tarling Regeneration (London)
• Trinity Watch (South West)
• Writtle Road (London)
• Yew Tree Lodge (London)

Notes to editors

• Building for Life is the national standard for well designed homes, used by the government to measure housing quality.  Building for Life is an initiative led by CABE and the Home Builders Federation. www.buildingforlife.org
• Government now includes the Building for Life standard in its annual monitoring return core indicators for local and regional planning authorities.
• CABE is the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. As a public body, we encourage policymakers to create places that work for people. We help local planners apply national design policy and offer expert advice to developers and architects. We show public sector clients how to commission buildings that meet the needs of their users. And we seek to inspire the public to demand more from their buildings and spaces. Advising, influencing and inspiring, we work to create well-designed, welcoming places. www.cabe.org.uk