RIBA calls for more new homes…

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has welcomed the Government’s recent commitments to increasing the numbers of new build houses, including the announcement on funding for Housing Zones across England. But the RIBA has also warned that the whole exercise could prove futile if the Government fails to put quality at the heart of this investment. RIBA went on to call on MPs from all political parties to vote for the amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill calling for the adoption of a minimum space standard into national building regulations. This will ensure new build homes are large enough for families and built to last. RIBA President Jane Duncan (left) said, “Whilst this new focus on quantity is to be applauded, the Government can no longer ignore the poor quality of some of our new housing stock, especially as it ploughs public money into housebuilding. Our latest report, ‘HomeWise: Space Standards for Homes’ concluded that some new homes being built in England are still too small and that a minimum space standards for new dwellings must be adopted into building regulations. “These aren’t outlandish demands; they simply ensure that all new build homes are of an adequate size.”…