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RIBA Research

The RIBA’s new discussion paper 'Improving Housing Quality: Unlocking the Market', examines how UK housing policy could be recalibrated to produce better quality and more desirable new homes.

Download the paper:

 

Particular issues affecting housing quality:

• Insufficient competition in the market for new homes.
• Insufficient choice and market freedom for consumers and communities.
• A process of land acquisition and engrained problems within the planning system that lead to land speculation, higher prices and insufficient consideration of design quality.

In broad terms the paper argues for:

• The housebulding model - a shake-up of the UK housebuilding industry and a move away from a system driven by short-term profit maximisation, towards a more sustainable model which produces high quality homes and creates greater consumer choice
• Local authority leadership - new housing developments to be driven by local authorities and local communities to produce a product that is attractive to consumers and investors in the long-term and maximises the economic benefits of good design.
• Empowering the consumer – better and more transparent system of consumer information, freeing up the market to give individuals and communities opportunities to plan, design and build new homes and neighbourhoods.

Locally driven standards

The research argues that the fallout from recession could lead to a recasting of the housing sector. Local authorities and public sector bodies should be given the confidence and autonomy to make the most of the opportunity this provides and take a lead role in housing development, to drive up standards at a local level and use its existing powers to push through new developments and open up the market to greater competition.

Key recommendations:

• Government should introduce incentives for the use of design codes that involve the local community through design-charettes. Buildings which are in line with locally-agreed masterplans and comply with or exceed design code minima could be granted permitted development status.
• Local government should take a more active role in promoting new development, sponsoring masterplans, taking equity stakes in housing schemes and capitalising on the economic value of high quality housing.
• Local authorities should be encouraged to use existing Compulsory Purchase Powers more proactively to free up land and as a last resort to address landowners who refuse to join consortia and to maximise quality outcomes.
• Density targets should be made more flexible and contextual and combined with ‘ceilings’.
• Government should look to re-shape the planning system so that the costs associated with producing a good quality product are comparatively reduced.
• Councils should retain greater shares of local taxation and be given greater financial autonomy so that they can borrow and invest more freely.
• Planning departments need to be given the confidence to place design and quality at the centre of decision-making. High-ranking roles are needed for planner-architects and greater access and use of design expertise in councils where housing demands are most intense.

Better information and greater choice for consumers

The research suggests that government could unlock the “hidden market” for high quality design by putting consumers and communities at the heart of the housing delivery process. Greater transparency and better information on the size and standard of homes could provide more informed and involved consumers, who work more closely with their local council to create a vision for their area and a greater say over the design of their homes and neighbourhoods.

Key recommendations:

• New rules could be considered to insist on a certain percentage of public land disposals are allocated for self-builders and co-operatives in the form of serviced plots, perhaps part of affordable housing quotas.
• A kitemark system should be used, administered by central government, indicating that a particular home meets an advised minimum size for a certain number of occupants All advertisements for individual houses should be required to show the overall floor area, the size of the main rooms and/or the price per sq ft.
• The government should commission urgent research on the consumer preferences of all aspiring homeowners and why older homes and older neighbourhoods in certain districts have remained so desirable.

 

Housing design

High quality design adds value to homes and places - not only in terms of house prices but also happier residents, safer communities and better public spaces. A well-designed home is cheaper to run, grows old gracefully and responds to the needs of its inhabitants.

But too many homes and their surroundings in the UK fall short in terms of design. CABE's own Housing Audit recently found that only 18% of new developments can be classed as good or very good. The majority of new homes built in the UK are just not up to scratch in terms of their design and their build quality- and whilst we can debate the causes of this and the historical context, the fact is that we need to do better.

The RIBA and its members want to work together with the housebuilding industry to deliver well designed, sustainable and affordable homes. We annually celebrated the National Housing Design Awards|, which show what can be done when developers and architects work together.

The RIBA has reengaged with Government and the housing industry to try to improve our housing stock, both current and future. In 2007 we put forward a number of recommendations in our position in our publication Better Homes and Neighbourhoods|. We continue to work towards raising the quality of design, and the ability of our homes to play major roles in improving lifestyles, combating climate change, and creating better communities.

Find out more about the RIBA's Housing Policy here|.