HCA and CABE pledge commitment to improving design quality

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and CABE, have teamed up today to pledge their joint commitment to drive up the design quality of new homes, following the publication of the first national design survey of new affordable housing in England.

The findings of the Affordable Housing Survey, produced by CABE and commissioned by the Housing Corporation, now part of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), show mixed results.

Based on the assessment of 218 schemes from the Housing Corporation's 2004/06 and 2006/08 funding rounds, the findings show nearly two thirds (61 per cent) to be 'average', with 18 per cent of schemes either 'good' or 'very good'. A fifth of schemes (21 per cent) were assessed as 'poor'.

Some aspects of the schemes were frequently strong: these included architectural quality, the quality of the surrounding public realm and the tenure and accommodation mix. Many schemes also outperformed statutory minimum criteria, such as building regulations.

But the survey assessed the whole place, not only the buildings, and found other aspects of some schemes to be weak. These included a lack of distinctiveness and having a design that does not respond to its context. Some schemes were difficult to navigate around, or had limited access to local amenities. Around 20 per cent of schemes were marked down as a result of these issues.

In a joint statement, Richard Simmons, chief executive of CABE and Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the HCA, said: "We all want public housing to blaze the trail for good quality, sustainable design. This survey shows that too much social housing has not been good enough in recent years. High standards are crucial to improving quality.”

Recommendations of the report include closer working between RSLs and local planning authorities and enforcing minimum design standards, including Building for Life. The HCA currently requires partners to adhere to the ex-Housing Corporation design standards and ex-English Partnerships quality standards for schemes on its land.

A Design and Sustainability Advisory Group is currently being set up by the HCA to provide independent strategic policy advice to the agency. The Group will provide an ongoing independent perspective on the extent to which the HCA's statutory duties in respect of good design and sustainable development are being delivered.