New guidance from Building for Life explains how to implement Building for Life standards in new affordable housing developments.
Building for Life is the national benchmark for housing developments in England, developed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
Assessment against these standards is a requirement for affordable homes built with investment from the Housing Corporation's £8.4 billion 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme.
The new guide - Achieving Building for Life - explains the technical terminology, concepts, and processes in clear language to help development directors procure the quality they require. Published by HATC, it has been developed with input from CABE and affordable housing providers themselves, to ensure it meets their needs.
Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas said:
"Reaching high quality design standards is a central requirement of the Housing Corporation's investment programme and a core objective of the new Homes and Communities Agency.
Achieving Building for Life is an invaluable resource. It will help affordable housing developers take the lead in procuring well-designed developments now and in the future."
Achieving Building for Life was produced with Innovation and Good Practice grant support from the Housing Corporation and written by Andrew Drury and Lesley Johnson of HATC.
A former 18th century tobacco warehouse in Stockport is enjoying a new lease of life as part of a national design award success.
Rostron Brow, located within the Hillgate Conservation Area in Stockport town centre, has won developers Guinness Northern Counties the Richard Fielden Award for Affordable Housing at the Housing Design Awards 2008.
The residential development of eight two-bedroom apartments completes the restoration of a longstanding, dilapidated and blighted area of the town, which began with Guinness Northern Counties' redevelopment of Mealhouse Brow, completed in January 2006.
Guinness Northern Counties used the same winning team that helped to secure a string of national and regional awards for its adjacent Mealhouse Brow project, including Stockport-based architects TADW and building contractors CSC Construction, of Cheadle.
Four of the eight shared ownership apartments are contained within an existing 18th century building which was originally used as a tobacco Warehouse.
The remaining four apartments are centred around a secure courtyard which is accessed by a gated passageway. A bridge link from the stairwell leads to a high level private terrace for residents. In addition, each apartment has a private external balcony accessed from the living room.
The ground floor courtyard area, bridge link and private terrace are sensitively lit at night to highlight the old town wall, which is a 15th Century listed structure.
The project includes a new build section utilising traditional and reclaimed materials from the original site and three restored retail units facing out onto Mealhouse Brow and Lower Hillgate.
The scheme has achieved Secured by Design accreditation and is cited as an example of good practice in this respect.
