Planning Minister Nick Boles has officially recognised five of the first developments that meet the revised Building for Life 12 criteria for design quality, safety and community at a parliamentary event hosted by Andrew Bridgen MP, member for North West Leicestershire.
BfL12 was relaunched in September last year by its partners – the Home Builders Federation, Cabe at the Design Council and Design for Homes - and is the third iteration of the industry owned and Government endorsed guide for developers and local authorities for new home and neighbourhood design.
It was revised to ensure it is best suited to the needs of the reformed planning system under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Localism Act. In the coming weeks many more developments will receive BFL recognition, demonstrating the progress made since September in establishing it as a recognised tool for achieving housing quality.
BfL12 is designed to help local communities become more involved in design conversations and in shaping development proposals. Its 12 questions provide a structure for discussions between local communities, the local planning authority, the developer and other stakeholders, to ensure that the design of new homes and their neighbourhood are as attractive, functional and sustainable as possible.
Its development is the result of a unique collaboration between house builders, local authorities, planners, architects and academics and draws on the innovative approach to the promotion of design quality adopted by North West Leicestershire Council through its “ourplace” initiative. Its 12 criteria were specifically developed in response to communities’ views, and to enable stakeholders involved in housing to consider all the elements of what makes “a good place to live” at the design stage. It provides an understanding between existing communities and the new residents coming in and should give purchasers real confidence in their new home.
The NPPF, published in March last year, puts a lot more power and responsibility in the hands of local authorities and local communities. It also gives continued weight to promoting design quality. BfL12 will help communities as they work with developers to seek outcomes that are both practical and ensure the developments planned for their area provide maximum benefit to existing and new residents.
BfL12 will also help house builders to continue the significant efforts made in recent years to drive up customer satisfaction levels, so that they are now at an all time high.
The five schemes to be recognised – which all recently gained planning approval – are ones that have met all12 of the criteria as a result of constructive dialogue at the local level. In addition, they show that newly designed housing developments can fit in with local architectural tradition where this is an important consideration. They are from five very different marketplaces and locations;
• Church Fields, Boston Spa – 170 houses on a greenfield site in a conservation area in North Yorkshire
• Seven Acres, Clay Farm/Great Kneighton, Cambridge – 128 houses and apartments as an early phase of a large extension to the urban boundary of the city of Cambridge
• Starvehall Farm, Cheltenham – up to 330 homes plus an additional 60 to be provided as extra care units plus a 60-bed nursing care home on greenfield land within Cheltenham limits on land newly brought into local plan
• Roussillon Park, Chichester– 252 homes on a redeveloped MOD barracks land to the north of Chichester city
• Manor Kingsway. Derby - 700 homes including an extra care facility plus shops and offices in the redevelopment of a hospital site promoted by HCA
All show that it is the balance between buildings and landscape that make the impression. BFL12 encapsulates the balancing act between buildings and the spaces for people to interact as communities between them.
In recognition of their achievement they will all receive a certificate of commendation from Planning Minister Nick Boles, who himself has been at the forefront in calling for the delivery of more, high quality homes to address the nation’s acute housing shortage.
Planning Minister Nick Boles MP said: "We need to build beautiful houses that people are happy to live next door to if we are to persuade local communities to accept enough house building to meet today's urgent need and that of future generations.
"Building for Life standards show the importance of good design both of buildings and of the public realm, and the benefits it can bring for both the building industry and communities. They are an incredibly useful guide for all involved in development.
"I'm delighted to commend the first five developments that meet the revised criteria for design and quality."
Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: “Building for Life is an extremely useful tool. It is a unique collaboration that provides a comprehensive guide to all parties involved in housing design. Customer surveys clearly show that house builders are already delivering a high quality product that people want to buy and live in.
"BFL gives us a standard to benchmark our homes against and will help us ensure we are doing all we can to deliver the best possible product for home buyers.”
