[KF] CABE research finds that new homes do not provide enough space for everyday activities - such as preparing food easily, having friends round for dinner, or even recycling.
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[KF] New homes do not provide enough space for everyday activities - such as preparing food easily, having friends round for dinner, or even recycling.
CABE conducted research with the owners of 2,500 private new homes, to explore views on the adequacy of internal space. Of all households surveyed, 44% said they do not have enough space for small children to play safely in the kitchen while meals are being prepared, and 37% said they or their children do not have enough space to entertain guests privately.
The research also found that:
The research points to lower-income households suffering from more of the problems associated with a lack of space.
Housebuilders often protest that people won't be able to afford houses with more space. In fact, the barrier is the profit margin that publicly limited companies feel obliged to make. By building the smallest homes in Europe, they're not giving people the choice. Homebuyers deserve well designed homes that allow them to choose how they live.
Richard Simmons, CABE Chief Executive, said the research brings into question the argument that the market will meet the demands of people living in private housing developments. He argued that we need local planning authorities to ensure much higher space standards before giving developments the go-ahead.
CABE also recommends that private housebuilders and estate agents should provide better information for buyers about space, using net floor area rather than the number of rooms. Also, that the Homes and Communities Agency should seize the opportunity to produce new cross agency standards for space.
The findings have been published in CABE's Space in New Homes: What Residents Think.
New Homes Are Too Small
44% do not have enough space for small children to play safely in the kitchen while meals are being prepared.
37% said they or their children do not have enough space to entertain guests privately.
72% do not have enough space for the three small bins required to recycle properly.
35% do not have the kitchen space for basic cooking appliances such as a toaster or a microwave.
57% do not have enough storage.
47% cannot accommodate all the furniture they have, or would like to have.