The Lifetime Homes standard is a set of 16 design criteria1 that can be universally applied to new homes at minimal cost. Each design feature adds to the comfort and convenience of the home and supports the changing needs of individuals and families at different stages of life.
The Government's adoption of the Lifetime Homes standard will lead, over the next few years, to adaptable and more accessible new homes across all sectors of house-building.
Although many planning policies already required the Lifetime Homes standard in new developments - for example, the London Plan - it was in February 2008 that the Department for Communities and Local Government announced that by 2011, all public sector funded housing in England will be built to the Lifetime Homes standard, with a target of 2013 for all private sector dwellings.
In recognition of the need for greater technical understanding of Lifetime Homes and its application, Habinteg and the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) have produced a new training course which will cover all aspects of Lifetime Homes training for a professional / technical audience, including:
The one-day course will include questions and answers and practical exercises to ensure an indepth understanding of the design criteria and their application.
Courses will commence in March 2009 and further updates will be announced via the Lifetime Homes website at www.lifetimehomes.org.uk.
Barking Riverside Ltd - the joint venture between the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Bellway - submitted three major planning reserve matter applications to the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC). These set out details of the first 4,000 homes and district and local centres, which include two new schools and much needed local transport improvements.
This marks the delivery phase for the £1.9 billion development and, subject to the planning process, the construction of the first homes is expected to start in late 2009. The remediation and groundwork is already well underway on site.
The submission, which has been prepared in liaison with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham as a key partner in the project, marks a key milestone in transforming the 150 ha brownfield site into a vibrant new community. Barking Riverside will eventually become home to over 26,000 people and deliver 10,800 homes, new jobs and community infrastructure.
These applications represent the first two stages of the four stage development. They have been prepared so that community facilities and transport infrastructure can be delivered at the same time as new housing, ensuring that Barking Riverside can evolve and grow, creating a sustainable community with each development stage.
The applications set out proposals for:
A major emphasis in the applications has been put on providing high quality family housing - with more than 45% of the 2,500 homes proposed in the second stage being three-bedroom homes. The proposals also include open space, around 40% of the total area, and new access routes to the riverfront.
