DCLG seeks to end 'pick and mix' regulation with five core housing standards

The proposals include the introduction for the first time of a national, cross-tenure space standard that local authorities and communities could choose to use to influence the size of new homes in their area.

In addition to this standard on space, the core standards would cover:

• security: “introducing a national regulation on security standards in all new homes to protect families from burglary”;
• age friendly housing: “new optional building regulations for accessible and adaptable mainstream housing to meet the needs of older and disabled people”;
• wheelchair user housing: “the introduction for the first time of an optional building regulation setting standards for wheelchair housing”;
• water efficiency: “the ability to set higher water efficiency standards in areas of water shortage”.

The security standard would be mandatory but councils would be able to decide whether to apply the other four.

The Department for Communities and Local Government claimed the streamlining of regulation and the new measures would save housebuilders and councils £114m.

It said: “Current housing standards required of new development can be unworkable, including demands for solar and wind energy sources that can’t physically fit onto the roofs of apartment buildings, or unnecessary including compliance regimes which add thousands to the cost of building a new home without any benefit.”

The consultation can be viewed here.

Communities Minister Stephen Williams said: “We need to build more homes and better quality homes and this government is delivering on both. It’s now time to go further by freeing up housebuilders from unnecessary red tape and let them get on with the real job building the right homes, in the right places, to help families and first time buyers onto the property ladder.

“The current system of housing standards creates a labyrinth of bureaucratic rules for housebuilders to try and navigate, often of little benefit and significant cost. We are now slashing this mass of unnecessary rules down to just five core standards saving housebuilders and councils £114m a year whilst making new homes safer, more accessible to older and disabled people and more sustainable.”

The DCLG added that a new zero carbon homes standard will come into force through the building regulations from 2016.