New housing quality toolkit is launched
Housing Corporation Statement
12 March 2008 21/08
New housing quality toolkit is launched
A new online tool-kit, developed by CABE and funded by the Housing Corporation, will help developers, housing associations and their design teams show planners and funding bodies how their proposed development meets the Building for Life standard – the national benchmark for well-designed housing and neighbourhoods.
The Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and an increasing number of local authorities now require new housing developments to fulfil between 12 and 16 of the 20 Building for Life criteria.
The new guidance, launched today (Thursday, 13 February), is also designed to help funding bodies and planners assess whether proposed developments meet the Building for Life standard. It provides clear examples of the design-related material – diagrams, plans, visuals and models – clients can include in grant application tenders or design and access statements; and explains how that material should be evaluated.
The new tool-kit is available to download for free from the Building for Life website, www.buildingforlife.org
Matt Bell, director of campaigns and education at CABE, said, "Design teams need to speak the same language as the people who assess their proposals. The Building for Life tool-kit helps them prepare accurate and relevant information that will make their case clearly and effectively. For assessors, this will help them understand the strengths and weaknesses of a proposed development, and eliminate spurious subjective concerns."
Steve Douglas, chief executive of the Housing Corporation, said, "This guidance is a valuable tool for both architects and developers. It explains the expectations of the schemes against the Building for Life criteria and provides useful links and information on how this can be achieved."
Ends
Notes to Editors
Building for Life is the national standard for well-designed housing and neighbourhoods. It is awarded to housebuilders and housing associations who demonstrate a commitment to high design standards, good place making and sustainable development. Building for Life is an initiative led by CABE and the Home Builders Federation. It is supported by the Civic Trust, Design for Homes, English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation. www.buildingforlife.org
CABE is the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. As a public body, we encourage policymakers to create places that work for people. We help local planners apply national design policy and offer expert advice to developers and architects. We show public sector clients how to commission buildings that meet the needs of their users. And we seek to inspire the public to demand more from their buildings and spaces. Advising, influencing and inspiring, we work to create well-designed, welcoming places. www.cabe.org.uk
The Housing Corporation is responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England. www.housingcorp.gov.uk For further press information regarding the Housing Corporation, contact Nicole Davey on 020 7393 2118 or at nicole.davey@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk
The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 is funding 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these are for affordable rent, and 35,000 are for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency and Office for Tenants and Social Landlords.
