Inadequate new housing slammed by RIBA

A ‘Case for Space’ study led by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has denounced new buildings in the UK as ‘shameful shoebox homes’. The research based its findings on building regulations that have come into force in London and concluded that an average three bedroom house is 8% smaller than the recommended minimum for cohesive and comfortable living.

3418 houses were examined across England in a phenomenon that RIBA chief executive Harry Rich described as ‘thousands of cramped houses’ being ‘churned out’. The average missing space in a UK new build is equivalent to a single bedroom with a bedside table, wardrobe and chair. Home buyers are being left with ‘not much of a choice’ in their local area. Currently London is the only area with buildings standards imposed.

The study hopes to promote better provision of information from estate agents and house builders through its HomeWise campaign in order to help consumers make more informed decisions, including releasing details about the floor plan before any contracts are signed. England is unusual in determining house value based on the number of rooms – in most of Europe the size is given in square metres. RIBA wants ‘an industry-wide voluntary agreement to ensure house builders publish data about the size and quality of new homes’.

However the Home Builders Federation warned that creating bigger homes would mean a rise in prices – an issue already affecting first-time buyers and young people in an extremely expensive housing market.

In response the Department for Communities and Local Government have stated they intend to put control of house building back into the hands of local communities. A spokesman said: "Under our planning reforms neighbourhoods will be able to design and vote on their own plans for the future of their areas, giving them the chance to exercise meaningful choice over the type and size of homes that are built, and giving developers the chance to benefit from a smoother process for getting planning permission by working with local people from the start."

Read the full details of the study here.

Click here to access the HomeWise website.

Published: Thursday, 15th September 2011 by Ellen Haggan