Lords Planning Minister, Baroness Kay Andrews, called on local authorities and developers to make sure all new developments are of high quality design.
The challenge came as new guidance was published on planning reforms that mean the majority of planning application will now have to be accompanied by design and access statements. The statements will set out how issues such as disabled access have been addressed in the proposal, ensuring there is a greater understanding of what is being planned and what the final development might look like.
In addition, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) released a good practice guide on how the statements will work. The guidance gives practical advice for developers and local authorities on what will need to be included and how the statements should be interpreted.
New research also published shows that the quality of new developments is increased when Design Coding is used. The evaluation report shows that Design Codes - locally agreed guidance that sets out three-dimensional, site specific design requirements - has led to a more efficient, transparent development process. The research reviews seven pilot schemes, which in some locations have been responsible for setting new benchmarks for design quality.
The Building Research Establishment (BRE), in collaboration with the Housing Corporation, launched EcoHomes XB. Designed to enable property managers and landlords to assess the environmental efficiency of their stock, the EcoHomes XB assessment helps identify potential for improvement and measure improvement when works have been carried out.
There is a wide range of property types, and an equal wide range of potential for improvement. However there are a limited number of measures that can realistically be adopted.
EcoHomes XB adapts the BREEAM methodology and EcoHomes criteria to the constraints of the existing stock. These constraints include site issues (access to local amenities, transport, ecology etc.) and practical issues, such as the building fabric, heating systems, and ventilation.
BRE worked closely with the Housing Corporation to ensure EcoHomes XB is as user-friendly as possible, being organised around a list of practical measures.
Topics covered by EcoHomes XB are management policies, energy, transport, pollution, water, health and waste.
EcoHomes XB has taken just over 2 years to complete. Its development has involved consultation with a range of stakeholders and mainstream bodies, including housing associations, local authorities, EcoHomes assessors, and other interested parties.
The scheme has been piloted twice and a number of housing associations and local authorities have participated. The assessment is designed for both local authorities and housing associations, which between them represent over 4 million homes emitting an estimated 27.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
EcoHomes XB is a complete tool for housing associations and local authorities to judge their own environmental performance of their management structure and their existing housing stock, highlighting properties that are in need of attention. The tool is easy to use as it draws on existing data close to hand and other readily accessible information.
EcoHomes XB consists of 3 components:
BRE has developed EcoHomes XB to have a rating score of 0 to 100. The basic method for using EcoHomes XB is:>
Assessments under EcoHomes XB are for the guidance of housing associations and local authorities, but they are not mandatory requirements. Assessments assist in highlighting areas of the stock needing attention and facilitates the choice of work to be undertaken for the greatest benefit and practicality.
The £350 million regeneration of the New Deal for Communities area of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore in Coventry took a step forward. Plans went on display for the first phase, which will provide 3,500 new homes, 1,000 of which will be built for social housing and work that will start in late 2007.
The regeneration programme includes providing a new leisure and neighbourhood centre, shops, a community park and local play areas.
The Masterplanning Partnership, comprising New Deal for Communities, Coventry City Council, Whitefriars Housing Group and developer partnership Keepmoat, Bovis and Persimmon Homes, presented the proposals.
In addition to physical improvements, ongoing work by all partners will continue to help cut crime, improve health, boost job prospects and maintain the appearance of the area.
Refurbished flats at two Northampton tower blocks were let within 48 hours of release. LHA (Leicester Housing Association) spent £9 million completely refurbishing the Newlife Apartments in Spring Boroughs. The 92 flats available for rent were let by LHA in partnership with Northampton Borough Council. A further 48 flats have been earmarked for sale to key workers.
The refurbishment works included new fitted kitchens with appliances, fully equipped bathrooms, showers, Internet connections and digital TV connections.
LHA also overhauled the fabric of the towers themselves, providing new windows, balconies and external brickwork, upgraded stairwells, new lifts, improved communal areas, energy efficiency upgrades, 24-hour security, three times as many secure car parking spaces and new perimeter fencing.
Endeavour Housing Association completed its £1.4 million housing development in Stockton-on-Tees. The scheme, in Bellsmoor Close, provides eight two-bedroom bungalows, and three three-bedroom and two two-bedroom houses. The scheme, on the site of the former Manor House sheltered accommodation, attracted a grant of nearly £600,000 from the Housing Corporation. The scheme is part of a £20 million development programme to provide further new homes for rent.
Work started on a 25-unit affordable housing scheme in the London Borough of Lambeth. The four-storey development is being built by Kitewood Estates for London & Quadrant and Tower Homes. The development, at Clapham Park Road, comprises a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats. The scheme, which is scheduled for completion in autumn 2007, will provide modern homes for key workers.
Lovell started work on a £16 million housing scheme at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, which will create new key worker accommodation for hospital staff as well as private housing for sale. The scheme, which is taking place in partnership with Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust and Thames Valley Housing, will create 108 new self-contained flats for rent by hospital staff. Lovell will also refurbish the existing Tamarisk House building to create 15 further key worker flats, also for rent. Thames Valley Housing Association will manage the new key worker accommodation.
Lovell will also build 20 three-bedroom houses and 18 two-bedroom flats at the site for open market sale, as well as converting the existing Heatherwood House building to create 14 flats for sale.
During the last six months Newcastle City Council and housing ALMO Your Homes Newcastle have been investigating possible ways to increase the supply of council homes in the City. There are now proposals are to build around 30 bungalows, specially designed for older and disabled people, across three or four sites in Newcastle. Subject to the Board's approval, a detailed business proposal will be developed that will look at the design, cost and funding of the developments. It is expected that this will mean that work can commence on these bungalows this year - the first new council homes in the City since 1985.
A spokesperson for the Council said the proposals are part of a long-term strategy to respond to the growing demand in the City for appropriate accommodation for older and disabled people and larger council homes. This is consistent with the aims and aspirations of Newcastle City Council's housing strategy, which outlines the case for 18,000 new homes in the city by 2020, of which 6,000 are to be affordable.
It is also one of a number of measures aimed at making local communities more sustainable: the bungalows would allow older tenants to move into specially adapted homes close to family and friends. In turn, this would free up much-needed larger family accommodation, encouraging new people to move into the area.
Wates won a £20 million contract for improvements to 6,000 Birmingham Council homes in the south of the City. The programme of works will include new central heating, windows and doors, as well as roof and guttering upgrading.
Sentinel Housing appointed Fleming Developments UK to build 162 mixed tenure homes in Basingstoke. Completion is scheduled for June 2007.
Sanctuary Housing Association appointed Keepmoat as the main contractor for the refurbishment of 2,500 homes on its Shiregreen Estate in Sheffield. The works, which are part of a £90 million investment programme, will include new kitchens and bathrooms, rewiring, roof upgrading and environmental improvements.
Higgins Construction was appointed by Circle Anglia as the lead contractor for its new £6.5 million mixed tenure housing scheme in Sawston, Cambridgeshire - which will see 56 new timber-framed homes constructed.
Two flats specially designed for wheelchair users will be included in a £1.17 million Aberdeenshire housing scheme. A flat designed for older people with restricted mobility will also form part of the Margaret Blackwood Housing Association development. The 11-flat development is being built at Park Road in Ellon and should be completed in November.
The new development has been designed to be easy and inexpensive to heat, with plenty of exterior insulation and a high-efficiency space and water-heating system. The overall cost of the development is £1.17 million, with £790,000 in Housing Association Grant coming from Communities Scotland.
Almost 4,000 council houses in South Lanarkshire are to be modernised in a major £36 million programme. New kitchens and bathrooms will be fitted in the homes thanks to HomeHappening, the largest home modernisation programme in Scotland. The 3,960 homes to have work carried out will add to the 7,584 that have already been completed by the end of the financial year in March.
South Lanarkshire's housing capital investment budget this year alone is more than double that compared to five years ago when it was £17.5 million.
New homes in Springfield Road, Dalmarnock, officially opened, including the first 26 homes made available by housing associations to tenants of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) as part of its agreed demolition programme. A further 34 quality homes in the project by Thenew Housing Association have been allocated to local people, the majority of whom lived in tenement property due for demolition.
The 60-home project is the second phase of a development of new quality homes, which was supported with £5.2 million from Communities Scotland, and has been developed alongside the Kirkhaven project, a new-build hostel that provides care and support to 15 men with alcohol problems, run by Crossreach. The Kirkhaven project is a new facility, replacing the Kirkhaven Hostel for local people with alcohol addiction problems.
