Steve CarrDirector of Policy & Economics

English Partnerships

Space Matters

Space & the 21st Century Home SeminarRIBA/CABE 23 November 2007

Space standards in Europesmall homes and small room sizes

SpaceDespite clever design, small dwellings mean no Lifetime Homes, no storage, no adaptability and flexibility, no room for guests, less privacy, less daylight and ventilation/airflow and more potential for stress and overcrowding

The space problem

your ‘balcony’your ‘balcony’ your stuff in storage your stuff in storage

English Partnerships’Quality Standards

Consistent quality standards aids competition:

Urban Design Compendium

Community engagement

Remediation of land, cut out dig+dump

CEEQUAL eco standard for Civil Engineering

Building for Life Silver or Gold

BREEAM eco standard, commercial buildings

Inclusive design for elderly, families, disabled

Lifetime Homes, flexible and adaptable space

Parking standards, don’t let the car dominate

Integration of tenure - mixed communities

Construction efficiency

Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3+

Green building materials

Measures to stop overheating of homes

Minimum Space Standards for Homes

Summit HouseEnglish Partnerships’ prototype home: space, solar gain, energy efficiency flexibility and cost efficiency

Urban Summit 2005 Allerton Bywater, Leeds 2006

PRP Architects and Fusion steel frame manufacturers

Design for Manufacture

£60k homes

competition brief 2005

76.5 m2 minimum

10 sites

no loss of land value by EP

Space need not costdesign and supply chain partnering can iron out costs

Example: HTA architects - adaptable expandable homes for Barratt, Upton, Northampton. We need more of these.

Qualityoutside and inside

£60k Design for Manufacture homes. Sheppard Robson for Crest Nicholson English Partnership’s Linton site, Maidstone, Kent

Space brings light solar-gain circulation ventilation

76.5 sq m £60k Design for Manufacture homes English Partnerships’ Oxley Park site, Milton Keynes

Rogers Stirk Harbour for Taylor Wimpey

gentoo www.swingacat.info

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20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

No. of people

Bad

Good

1 Bed 2 person 51m2 (549 ft2)

2 Bed 3 person 66m2 (710 ft2)

2 Bed 4 person 77 m2 (829 ft2)

3 Bed 5 person 93 m2 (1001 ft2)

4 Bed 6 person 106 m2 (1141 ft2)

English PartnershipsMinimum Housing Space Standards from November 2007

Occupancy not just room numbers should matter: no cramming in of extra bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. English Partnerships has also set standards for storage, balconies and access to outside space: space and function go hand in hand.

Watch this spacethe debate about housing quality has only just begun

Who are we building homes for?

What kind of space do we need in our homes?

Who will live in our homes next – are they adaptable and flexible?

How can we reward those who design and build better homes?