mhs homes Design GuideQuality of life at the heart of what we do

As part of the majorgrowth and developmentthat is currently underwayand planned for Medway,mhs homes is committedto ensuring a highdesign and qualitystandard across ournew developments.

We put our customersand their quality of lifeat the heart of all thatwe do, creating vibrantneighbourhoods wherepeople want to live.

Contents

Introduction

Our vision, objectives and values

Medway’s rich heritage

Purpose of this Design Guide

Design and Quality Standards

Mix and Tenure

Internal Environment

External Environment

Sustainability

Maintainability and Durability

References

Acknowledgements

To be the leading affordable housingprovider in Medway, transforming thelives of the people living in the homesand communities we serve”

“Our Vision:

1mhs homes Design Guide

mhs homes wasestablished in 1990following a large scalevoluntary stock transferfrom what was thenknown as RochesterUpon Medway CityCouncil, now MedwayCouncil. mhs homes ispart of the mhs homesgroup which alsocomprises of mhscommercial, mhscommunity charity andHeart of Medway HousingAssociation.

It is mhs homes vision to be the leading

affordable housing provider in Medway,

transforming the lives of people living in

the homes and communities we serve.

We pride ourselves on high satisfaction

levels experienced by the residents living

in the new homes provided.

Since 2008 mhs homes has been an

Investment Partner with the Homes

and Communities Agency (HCA), securing

almost £20m of grant to build over 370

new homes.

Changes to grant allocation no longer

allow unregistered providers such as mhs

homes to claim grant funding. Following

a successful application to the TSA and

the HCA mhs homes group has set up

a registered provider subsidiary. The most

recent addition to the group is the Heart

of Medway Housing Association.

Heart of Medway will continue to claim

grant funding and deliver affordable

housing on behalf of the mhs homes

group, to create vibrant neighbourhoods

where people want to live.

We have developed an array of sites

from ex-garage sites which were suffering

from anti social behaviour issues,

outdated pre-fabricated bungalow

sites which were no longer fit for purpose,

regeneration sites, strategic sites working

closely with Medway Council and section

106 agreements.

We are not averse to ‘problem sites’

and have experience in dealing with

and overcoming issues that can arise.

Introduction

The flat is lovely and a perfect size, plus I’ve gotfantastic views overlooking the River Medway. I’vealways lived in Medway and my family live closeby so this scheme is ideal” Angela Pethig, resident.“

2 mhs homes Design Guide

Vision

To be the leading affordable housing

provider in Medway, transforming the lives

of the people living in the homes and

communities we serve.

Objectives

To put our customers and their quality

of life at the heart of all we do;

To create vibrant neighbourhoods in

Medway where people want to live;

To extend our influence in Medway and

be the partner of choice;

To value and develop people and be

the employer of choice;

To deliver service excellence;

To generate profits through our

commercial activities to invest in

social projects;

To build strong and successful social

business that recognises the impact we

have on the environment and economy

in Medway.

Values

To be the best in all we do;

To promote teamwork and personal

responsibility;

To act with respect for our customers

and colleagues and value their diversity;

To enjoy what we do.

Medway’s Rich Heritage

Medway is a vibrant, thriving destination,

named after the River Medway. The area

is made up of five towns - Chatham,

Rochester, Gillingham, Rainham

and Strood.

Medway is a unitary authority, formed

in 1998 within the ceremonial county

of Kent. It is the largest conurbation in

the South East with a population of

250,000 and growing. It is a major

regeneration area at the heart of the

Thames Gateway and has bid to achieve

City Status in 2012.

It was colloquially known as The Medway

Towns, however the city, villages and

towns at the mouth of the River Medway

have gradually merged.

Over half of the unitary authority area is

parished and rural in nature. Due to its

strategic location by the major crossing

of the River Medway, it has made a wide

and historically significant contribution

to Kent, and to England, dating back

thousands of years.

The area is steeped in history and rich

in maritime heritage with Rochester's

splendid Norman castle and cathedral

and The Historic Dockyard Chatham,

a prospective World Heritage Site.

Purpose of this Design Guide

mhs homes group recognises and

embraces the challenge of transforming

the lives of people living in the homes

and communities it serves. Part of

this challenge is delivering homes

designed to a high standard, both

internally and externally and to high

environmental standards.

This design guide should not be

considered in isolation, but has been

written with guidance influenced by

HCA Design and Quality Standards

and the numerous other standards,

regulations, codes and requirements

governing the development of housing

(see reference section at the end of

this guide).

The HCA Design and Quality Standards

aim to ensure that all new developments

in Medway:

Provide a standard of accommodation

that enables occupants to comfortably

undertake their day-to-day activities;

Are flexible and generous enough to

allow adaptation to meet future

demands & cater for changing lifestyles;

Combine efficient land use with the

environmental benefit of well-designed,

well-managed housing;

Respond positively to the other

buildings around them and contribute

to the character of a place.

The house is so perfect I felt at home as soon as Iwalked in. It’s built to hold in heat, so the rooms arealways warm and cosy. It’s environmentally friendlytoo with many extras included – we’ve got solar panelsthat heat our water; water butts that collect ourrainwater; a compost container each, plus our ownindividual bin sheds.

“ They have thought of absolutely everything, we’veeven got a bird house on the side of each propertyand a bird table in the garden and then to top thelot, we’ve got a lovely view out over the open field”Susan Warnett, resident

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Mix and Tenure

mhs homes preference is for mixed tenure

schemes. On sites of 10 or more units the

tenure mix should reflect Medway’s Guide

to Developer contributions - S.P.D. June

2008. On sites of less than 10 units, a

single tenure is acceptable.

Internal Environment

Dwelling SizeAt mhs homes we recognise that larger

dwellings have implications for cost and

land use and, consequently sustainability.

However, both mhs homes and our

residents believe that larger living spaces

and the size of a dwelling as well as the

number of rooms it contains are very

important. A dwelling larger in area, and

one with more rooms, represents higher

quality than a smaller one.

Merely providing a larger dwelling,

however, will not compensate for poor

layout, badly proportioned spaces,

awkward door swings that reduce

usability, or poor orientation of dwellings.

The minimum gross internal floor

area must not fall below the

minimum requirements dictated by

the Housing Quality Indicators as

administered by the Homes and

Communities Agency (HCA), but

wherever practical and possible,

and cost effective, mhs will seek

to provide larger accommodation,

incorporating the 16 design criteria

of Lifetime Homes in their entirety.

Dwelling LayoutThe usability of a home is dependent not

only on its size but also on whether it can

be organised to suit the way our residents’

wish to live. Regard should be had to the

National Housing Federation (NHF)

Standards and Quality in Development – A

Good Practice Guide to ensure the design

of the internal environment of a dwelling

takes account of the space taken up

by essential items of furniture and

equipment; the various areas needed

to use them effectively; and the space

needed for storage and circulation.

mhs homes priority is for providing family

housing and to provide dwellings that

achieve an appropriate balance between

social space where families can do things

together, and personal space where

people can be on their own, however,

large flats are not considered desirable.

Design and Quality Standards

4 mhs homes Design Guide

Prefered min. (MedwayHousing Design StandardsConsultation only) (m2)

HCAminimum(m2)

DwellingSize: Flats

2b3p

2b4p

57

67

61

70

Houses(2 storey)

2b4p

3b6p

4b6p

77

82

95

83

96

107

5mhs homes Design Guide

Internal Environment

Managing Noise TransferAt mhs homes we are aware that a

large number of complaints come

from householders regarding noise

from neighbours, and even from

sound coming from other parts of their

dwelling. We recognise that dwellings

must meet the minimum standards

dictated by Building Regulations, but

aspire to exceeding these requirements

wherever practical and cost effective.

Light Quality - Aspect and ProspectGood daylight, natural light and views

add greatly to both the quality and the

energy efficiency of a dwelling.

Designs should take full advantage of

natural daylight and orientation, noting

that a dwelling’s orientation will have a

significant impact on its energy use.

A residents satisfaction will be greatly

enhanced if they have a view from a

window and an opportunity to see

external activities, as well as the sky

and weather.

Design and Quality Standards

“The house is bright and airy and feels spacious, and the kitchen is really lovely. Wehave got a big window on the stairs which is a really nice feature, and two toiletswhich are always handy especially when there are youngsters or visitors about.

The back garden is brilliant too! It was already laid with turf, has got nice fencing, asmart shed and you can see that they have really thought about things because eachshed has a bicycle loop for secure storage of a bike. We absolutely love our new home”Michael & Alison Hope, residents

Internal Environment

Provision of ServicesThe services in a dwelling (lights, heating,

hot water supply, components etc.) must

be convenient, easy to use and safe.

They must also maintain a reasonable

level of comfort for the residents;

A key feature of the internal

environment is the ambient

temperature;

Heating systems must provide

reasonable comfort inside when

it is cold outside;

The use of renewable technologies to

provide heat, hot water or power

should be considered carefully.

Although mhs homes’ preference is for

“a fabric first” approach when renewable

technologies are incorporated, it is

important for designers to consider the

initial cost, whole life cost, service &

maintenance implications (ease and cost

of) and most importantly, the impact on

the residents (ease of use and

understanding of).

Also of particular importance are the

number and the distribution of electrical

sockets to allow the resident future choice

in furniture layouts.

Designers should refer to the National

Housing Federation (NHF) Standards and

Quality in Development – A Good Practice

Guide together with the requirements of

the National House Building Council

(NHBC) the “Essential Standards”.

Accessibility within the DwellingAccessibility is important for both the

residents and their visitors. A dwelling that

is well designed for accessibility will be

suitable for a wide range of users and will

enable residents to remain in their homes

despite advancing age or decreased

mobility or for other reasons.

This is an important aspect of value and

quality in housing. Reference should be

made to Lifetime Homes, Lifetime

Neighbourhoods, A National Strategy

for Housing in an Ageing Society

& Habinteg Housing Association’s Lifetime

Homes - 16 Design Criteria (as revised July

2010), based on the five overarching

principles of inclusivity, accessibility,

adaptability, sustainability and value.

6 mhs homes Design Guide

Design and Quality Standards

7mhs homes Design Guide

External Environment

LocationLocation has a major impact on occupants

and the long-term desirability of housing.

It is important to be aware from the

outset how much it will affect residents

in the future, even if the designer may

have little or no influence over it.

AmenitiesThe scale or type of amenity close to

a development is relevant to quality.

Although there are different benefits

to be achieved from different amenities,

it is important that a development is

located as close to as many of them

as possible, particularly shops, schools and

access to community facilities such as

doctors, dentists etc.

Play and LeisureCommunal outdoor amenity space,

or outdoor play space which provide

facilities for formal or informal play

and social interaction help to foster

a sense of community.

Wherever practical and cost effective, mhs

homes will provide such facilities, in the

form of an urban square, Local Area for

Play, Local Equipment Area for Play, village

green or simple landscaped area. The level

of provision should be in accordance with

the Medway’s Guide to Developer

Contributions - Supplementary Planning

Document June 2008.

Noise and Other LiabilitiesNoise sources or other liabilities such

as refuse tips, industry generating

smells etc. close to a development

can cause problems for residents

and constitute a disadvantage. Where

not possible or practical to locate a

development away from these liabilities,

the designer must show that action

has been taken to successfully mitigate

the associated outputs.

Acceptable DistancesIt is understood that “acceptable”

distances vary according to whether

the location is urban or rural and for

different types of resident. It is, however,

understood that for a scheme for elderly

persons, for example, it is important to

locate such residents as close as possible

and practical to the amenities and

services they utilise.

If some or all of these priorities are not

achievable mhs homes may consider

it to be inappropriate to pursue a

development.

Design and Quality Standards

External Environment

Visual ImpactAs there is little consensus on what is

aesthetically pleasing this can be difficult

to quantify. The questions that need to

be taken into account are the feelings

of those who will be living there, i.e.,

whether they will like it and whether

they will be proud to invite friends and

family to visit, and if it is a good place

to bring up a family.

Design should be appropriate to the

character of an area and build on existing

features within the locality.

On all developments, whether wholly

designed for mhs or as part of a larger

development, the affordable dwellings

should be ‘tenure blind’.

This ensures that from their external

appearance it is not possible to tell

the difference between affordable

and private homes.

Reference should be had to the CABE

Building for Life criteria, which underpin

the HCA’s external environmental

expectations within the Design and

Quality Standards publication.

Under this criteria all developments are

required to meet a minimum target score

of 12 from 20, but mhs aspire to their

developments meeting a target score

of 14 from 20 criteria. The criteria are

an invaluable tool for improving

neighbourhood design, ensuring that

it is functional, attractive and sustainable.

LayoutThe relationship of buildings to each

other, to open areas and to the remainder

of a development is critical to good

design. An active frontage where

buildings are adjacent to the road, streets

and footpaths provides interest, vitality

and security to the public realm. mhs

homes recognise that it is not always

possible to provide an active frontage,

but any deficiencies in this area can be

overcome by careful detailing.

Reference should be made to the National

Housing Federation (NHF) Standards and

Quality in Development – A Good Practice

Guide, Part C - Essential Standards for

Urban Form, and Layout and Form.

Landscaping GenerallyLandscaping designs should provide

for variation in surfaces, planting and

screening, to create visual interest,

wind protection, shade, security and

delineated access.

Additionally, any design must be easily

and cost effectively maintained.

8 mhs homes Design Guide

Design and Quality Standards

9mhs homes Design Guide

External Environment

Public Open SpaceThe way in which public open space is

provided has a great effect on the quality

of a residential environment. Boundaries

between public and private space

must be clear for security and

management reasons.

Areas should have a fully designated

purpose to ensure they are used safely

and non-intrusively.

Site SecuritySite security is paramount. At mhs homes,

we want customers to feel safe. As a

consequence all designs for new homes

must follow the principles of the Police

Initiative ‘Secured by Design’ and those of

Kent Police, by their early involvement in

the design of a development, especially

those specifically related to the area

outside and between dwellings. These

principles have been developed to guide

and encourage those engaged within the

design and building of new homes to

adopt crime prevention measures in all

new developments.

Children’s Playmhs homes would like, where possible

to include areas for children’s play.

mhs homes appreciate it may not be

possible to make provision for children’s

play on certain schemes, either because

the scheme is too small, is close to an

existing suitable provision, or because

the dwelling types are not planned for

or not expected to attract families.

However, where it is provided it should

be provided in accordance with the

Medway’s Guide to Developer

Contributions - Supplementary Planning

Document June 2008.

Shared AreasShared open space should be accessible

to a restricted group of residents, and

can include communal or shared gardens

or courtyards.

Shared areas around blocks of flats should

be treated wherever possible as private

open space. The distinction between

public and private areas is crucial and

designers should consider the size,

lighting levels and views, which all

contribute to the overall quality.

Design and Quality Standards

External Environment

Private Open SpacePrivate open space should be accessible

to residents only, and can include gardens,

patios and balconies.

mhs homes recognise that large gardens

and private open space have implications

for cost and consequently, for

sustainability. It is however the general

perception that “more” private open

space is “better” on the basis that most

residents appreciate the space. Safe

toddler play is most easily achieved in

private gardens, gardening is a popular

recreation, and private open space is likely

to increase opportunities for sunlight

and views. Notwithstanding the above,

houses should have a private garden with

a minimum length of 7m although 10m

would be preferable.

Cycle StorageAll new housing developments should

offer secure, convenient, sheltered cycle

parking to encourage residents to use

their bicycles.

They should be located in a private

garden wherever possible and practical.

Thereafter they should be located in a

secure common space close to the street.

Provision for cycle storage should be

made having regard to the requirements

of the Code for Sustainable Homes –

Technical Guidance – November 2010

and Medway Council Parking Standards.

Car Parking/Visitor ParkingProvision of car parking is sometimes

considered to be associated with a

wasteful form of personal transport rather

than with convenience for individuals.

However, mhs homes consider the

availability of conveniently located parking

space to be a positive attribute as

residents normally value this highly. mhs

homes therefore require that a minimum

of one car parking space per dwelling is

provided together with clearly defined

visitor parking where possible and

practical but as a minimum, parking

provision must be made in accordance

with Medway Council Parking Standards.

A car space should be secure in that it

provides security for the vehicle when

parked and also for the resident when

making their way to and from the car

space and their home. Wherever possible

and practical this should include good

lighting and visibility and a clear line

of sight from the dwelling to which

it belongs.

In certain locations however, such as town

centres and in close proximity to transport

nodes, mhs homes would like to promote

sustainable town centre living, with a

reduced car parking provision.

10 mhs homes Design Guide

Design and Quality Standards

The house is so perfect,I felt at home as soonas I walked in”Susan Warnett, resident

“

11mhs homes Design Guide

External Environment

Refuse and RecyclingDesigners should consider:

The anticipated volume of refuse

and recycling;

Convenience for residents;

Access for refuse collectors

and vehicles;

Fire risk;

Health and hygiene;

Appearance.

Any storage areas should be of a

hard impervious surface, which can

be washed down, and any common

enclosures should be secure and lit.

Requirements for refuse and recycling

are available in the guidance document

Waste and Recycling Requirements for

New Residential Developments in

Medway.

Routes and MovementRoutes for vehicles and pedestrians need

to be planned with the convenience,

safety and security of all users in mind.

Appropriate traffic calming measures

should be introduced where appropriate

including clear road hierarchies,

road detailing speed bumps, road

narrowing etc.

mhs homes recognise not all of these

measures will be required in every

development.

Pedestrian cycle and vehicle friendly

streets should be designed in conjunction

with the principles of Secured by Design,

and wherever possible and practical in

accordance with the Manual for Streets

and the Urban Design Compendium (Part

1), the Urban Design Compendium (Part

2) Delivering Quality Places.

Access to the DwellingThe design of pedestrian routes and

garden paths, dropped kerbs and

gateways, distance from car parking space

to entrance doors and dwelling entrances,

should all be considered in conjunction

with the requirements of Lifetime Homes,

and the principles of Secured by Design

and should ensure that the entrance to

any dwelling feels welcoming and safe.

Design and Quality Standards

Sustainabilitymhs homes aspire to building all of

their new homes to high environmental

standards. We seek to achieve a minimum

of Code Level 3, or more where

appropriate, in accordance with the

Code for Sustainable Homes – Technical

Guidance – November 2010.

At mhs homes we are keen to encourage

the use of innovative building products,

services and renewable technologies

within the design of the developments.

mhs homes acknowledge that sustainable

principles should feed into every stage

of the design of a new development

and should be addressed by designing

high quality, energy efficient, thermally

efficient, water efficient and healthy

buildings utilising materials and resources

from a sustainable source.

Maintenance and DurabilityThe materials and components of the

structure and fabric including fittings

and fixtures should all be considered

carefully to balance the need for clear

and attractive design with the ease, cost

and practicality of future maintenance.

12 mhs homes Design Guide

Design and Quality Standards

1. Building Regulations

2. HCA Design and Quality Standards

Web Page /

HCA Design and Quality Standards

PDF

2a. National Housing Federation (NHF)

Standards and Quality in

Development – A Good Practice

Guide

3. Medway’s Guide to Developer

Contributions - Supplementary

Planning Document June 2008

4. The Kent Design Guide Web Page

5. Code for Sustainable Homes

Web Page /

Code for Sustainable Homes –

Technical Guidance – November

2010 PDF

6. CABE: Building for Life Web Page

7. Secured by Design Web Page

8. Lifetime Homes Web Page

8a. Lifetime Homes, Lifetime

Neighbourhoods, A National

Strategy for Housing in an Ageing

Society Web Page /

Lifetime Homes, Lifetime

Neighbourhoods, A National

Strategy for Housing in an Ageing

Society PDF

9. Urban Design Compendium

Web Page /

Urban Design Compendium PDF

9a. Delivering Quality Places (Urban

Design Compendium2)

Delivering Quality Places (Urban

Design Compendium2) PDF

10. Manual for Streets Web Page /

Manual for Streets PDF

11. NHBC Standards Web Page /

NHBC Standards PDF

12. Medway Council Parking Standards

Web Page / Medway Council Parking

Standards PDF

13. Waste and Recycling Requirements

for New Residential Developments in

Medway PDF

This Design Guide has been written

by Emma Riddington, mhs homes

and Angela Lemon and John Spence,

calfordseaden LLP. The authors would

like to thank their stakeholders for

their contribution and participation in

producing this guide.

Guide designed by calfordseaden LLP.

13mhs homes Design Guide

References Acknowledgements

Broadside, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4LLTel: 01634 354 000 Email: post@mhs.org.uk www.mhshomes.co.uk

Registered name: mhs homes limited Registered office: Broadside, Leviathan Way, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4LLRegistered under: Industrial & Provident Societies Act 1965 (No. 26688R) Place of Registration: England