The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has convinced the Government to introduce a new space standard requirement across the whole of England to ensure that the millions of new homes being planned and built are fit for purpose and able to meet the requirements of the people who live in them.
The UK has the smallest new build homes in the whole of Western Europe; smaller than countries including The Netherlands which has less space and even higher population density levels.
RIBA research has revealed Yorkshire for example, a county with one of the lowest population densities in England, has been building the smallest new build homes in England. 80% of the public would be more likely to choose a home that meets minimum space standards
Introducing a minimum space standard has been a major campaign for RIBA and around 2,850 people joined our call for the introduction of this standard during a consultation in 2013 – this is a huge turnout for a response to a Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) technical consultation. Thanks to pressure from a RIBA campaign which was supported by thousands of people, including Kevin McCloud and Stephen Fry – the Government has said it intends to introduce minimum space standards for ALL new build homes across England.
Local authorities will be able to sign up to a national minimum space standards for new build homes to ensure that any proposals for new housing in their area is required to meet this national standard and ensure tiny shoe box homes are a thing of the past.
RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: “Our RIBA campaign gave people a voice on new housing. They told us new homes were too small and lacked enough space for them and their families.
"We are delighted that the Government has recognised the urgent need to stem the flow of poor quality housing that is blighting the UK by introducing a standard.
"The battle to shed our position as building the smallest homes in Western Europe is not over. RIBA urges all locally accountable Councillors to listen to their electorate and introduce a minimum space standard in their area.”
RIBA urges all English Councils to sign up to the new space standard to ensure that any new build homes in their areas are fit for purpose.