Architects call for bigger, better homes

Architects are calling for an end to "shoddy" and too small new homes and the introduction of minimum space standards.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called for bigger, better homes to be built as it believes new properties in England and Wales are lagging behind those in the EU and Japan.

The calls are part of a new housing policy the organisation is launching today, called Better Homes and Neighbourhoods, which also includes proposals for a "more flexible" approach to greenbelt land, "smarter regulation" and a "streamlined planning system".

The policy also calls into question whether the government's target of 200,000 new homes per year will be sufficient to meet demand, as well as supporting the aim of all homes being built to zero-carbon standards by 2016.

However, as only around one per cent of the UK's housing stock is replaced every year the RIBA is calling on the government to take a "comprehensive and targeted approach" to making existing housing stock more efficient.

"The RIBA is determined to do what it can to deliver better homes and neighbourhoods by encouraging high design standards. With this policy we're setting out a marker," said Jack Pringle, RIBA president.

He added: "It's a disgrace, for example, that the average new home sold to people today is significantly smaller than that built in the 1920s. It can't be right for individuals, families or communities to live in matchboxes. We're way behind the rest of Europe – even densely populated Holland has better proportioned houses than are being built in the UK. So let's see minimum space standards for all new homes."

"We want to develop new and constructive partnerships with developers, other construction professions and policy-makers to avoid the mistakes of the past. We're back in the game and ready to do our bit to deliver great homes and places."

The full Better Homes and Neighbourhoods housing policy can be viewed at www.architecture.com.