Government's new housing strategy - not about building more homes at any cost

Date:

21 November 2011

Press release contact:

Tessa Kordeczka
T: +44 (0)207 307 3761
E: Tessa.Kordeczka@riba.org

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) welcomes the boost that the government's housing strategy, launched today, will give to the construction of badly needed new homes, and also the invitation to collaborate on a minister-led design summit.

The RIBA supports the aims of Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England to get the housing market moving again, with measures to increase the number of people taking up mortgages on new-build properties, free up additional public sector land and finance stalled schemes.

A central plank of the strategy is a focus on the quality of new-build homes and an acknowledgement that design, sustainability and quality are as important as quantity to deliver homes for communities.

RIBA Chief Executive Harry Rich said:

'We have been pressing hard for more homes to be built in the UK and for these to be of high-design quality. I am delighted that the government has listened and has given such prominence to design quality and the role of architects in driving good design within their communities and in delivering housing fit for the 21st century.'

In helping the delivery of more homes through public money, lessons from Kickstart must be used to ensure that the right types of home and of the right quality are provided to last for future generations.

Recent RIBA research has shown that many newly completed homes are failing to meet people's needs – research that is used by the government in its assessment of the current state of UK housing.

Community involvement is identified in the strategy as crucial to delivering new homes. Architects have the skills and expertise to provide support to communities and the RIBA welcomes the strategy's commitment for the RIBA, together with other partners, to work with the government to look at how to provide that support.

Local involvement is one of the ways to improve design quality and this should not happen in isolation. The RIBA will work with local authorities and housebuilders to explore ways of improving the design and quality of new homes.

Notes to editors

For further information, please contact Tessa Kordeczka in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3761 or email tessa.kordeczka@riba.org

The government's housing strategy| is available to read online.

In September 2011 the RIBA launched its HomeWise campaign to involve households, architects, the construction industry and policy makers in conversation about how to deliver homes that meet or exceed the needs of the population. Details can be found at: http://www.architecture.com/HomeWise|. As part of the campaign the RIBA has set up the Future Homes Commission, chaired by business leader Sir John Banham, to undertake a broad consultation into what people need and want from their homes.