Will! Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) Almost a couple of years ago the government published optional technical standards of new housing for local planning authorities. These are minimum standards for internal space, water efficiency and accessibility that local planning authorities can require house builders to meet. For example, here are the standards for minimum gross internal floor area and storage. Minimum gross internal floor areas and storage (m2) Number of bedrooms(b) Number of bed spaces (persons) 1 storey dwellings 2 storey dwellings 3 storey dwellings Built-in storage 1b 1p 39 (37) * 1.0 2p 50 58 1.5 2b 3p 61 70 2.0 4p 70 79 3b 4p 74 84 90 2.5 5p 86 93 99 6p 95 102 108 4b 5p 90 97 103 3.0 6p 99 106 112 7p 108 115 121 8p 117 124 130 5b 6p 103 110 116 3.5 7p 112 119 125 8p 121 128 134 6b 7p 116 123 129 4.0 8p 125 132 138 Since these optional standards were published I don't think I've seen a single new build that complies with them. Has anyone on here? Should they be made compulsory? Or scrapped altogether? Edited January 12, 2017 by Will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkwell Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 To be fair, the builders were probably confused by the concept of 'built-in storage' and thought it must have been meant for someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Woods? Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 As an Australian I find these sizes so laughably small that, indeed, I do not see why you bother having them. 8 people in 117sqm?! I've seen larger **** fighting pits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeePee Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 I don't think you're reading this correctly. The optional applies to this group of technical standards covering water, access, space. I believe this are optional because a local authority may pick and choose levels of access requirements for example (i.e. full wheelchair accessible, or future adaptable - variation/different parts of Approved Document M). The space standards you have mentioned above are a must now. I.e. every planning permission will have it written in the conditions. Having said all that - they are still quite laughable. Some local authorities are writing their own which is good to see (i.e. Ashford have their own which have a 5% increase). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamnumerate Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 10 hours ago, Tiger Woods? said: As an Australian I find these sizes so laughably small that, indeed, I do not see why you bother having them. 8 people in 117sqm?! I've seen larger **** fighting pits. I have lived with 8 other people in 50 sqm for a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CunningPlan Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Just now, iamnumerate said: I have lived with 8 other people in 50 sqm for a few weeks. What were you in for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamnumerate Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 3 minutes ago, CunningPlan said: What were you in for? Actually I think prisoners get more space than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will! Posted January 13, 2017 Author Share Posted January 13, 2017 25 minutes ago, Bronson said: I don't think you're reading this correctly. The optional applies to this group of technical standards covering water, access, space. I believe this are optional because a local authority may pick and choose levels of access requirements for example (i.e. full wheelchair accessible, or future adaptable - variation/different parts of Approved Document M). The space standards you have mentioned above are a must now. I.e. every planning permission will have it written in the conditions. Having said all that - they are still quite laughable. Some local authorities are writing their own which is good to see (i.e. Ashford have their own which have a 5% increase). My reading of this paragraph is that internal space standards are optional. I'm happy to be corrected though. Quote Can local planning authorities require internal space standards in new homes? The National Planning Policy Framework says that local planning authorities should identify the size, type, tenure and range of housing that is required in particular locations, reflecting local demand. Where a local planning authority (or qualifying body) wishes to require an internal space standard, they should only do so by reference in their Local Plan to the nationally described space standard. My emphasis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeryMeanReversion Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 I've got an outbuilding in the garden that I can convert to 1200sqft single-storey. According to that chart, I could get 5 bedrooms and 6 people in there. I was thinking it was going to be a bit small for my two kids to share until they bought their own place. Now they can take in 4 lodgers and aspire to be landlord scum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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