Successful places
with homes and jobs
A NATIONAL
AGENCY
WORKING
LOCALLY
Design and Standards: HCA Standards and Regulatory
Update
SSW Housing Design Seminar
Lisa Broom
Design Manager
Homes and Communities Agency
22 October 2015
University of the West of England
Design and Standards:
HCA Standards and Regulatory Update
HCA’s role
Sharing knowledge and
leading research
Design Standards and
Regulations
HCA’s role
HCA’s Role – Strategic Alignment
HM GOVERNMENT
- Building a stronger economy
- Fairness and aspiration
- Britain in the World
DCLG
- Devolution and Local Growth
- Housing
- Community Matters
HCA
-Supporting local communities to create
the homes and jobs they need
- Supporting devolved areas to regenerate and
grow places
- Providing people with the opportunity to have
their own home
Delivering our objectives
CREATING SUCCESSFUL PLACES WITH HOMES
AND JOBS
SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO
CREATE HOMES AND JOBS THEY NEED
- Working side-by-side with local partners to match housing supply to
labour needs
- Unlocking complex sites through tailored expertise and infrastructure
investments
- Tackling urban decay through effective use of brownfield land
- Solving problems to develop viable schemes
- Stimulating private investment in commercial sites
SUPPORTING DEVOLVED AREAS TO REGENERATE
AND GROW PLACES
- Aligning priorities to articulate strategic ambitions for cities and
other major areas
- Providing capacity to deliver ambitious place-based deals
- Advising on deal structures, delivery plans and governance arrangements
- Developing and managing tailored funding models for regeneration and
growth
- Developing strategic pipelines and unlocking complex sites
PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THEIR OWN HOME
- Addressing market imbalances while delivering social outcomes
- Stimulating private housing investment through flexible
programmes
- Releasing public land at increased pace
- Implementing consumer products at pace to help people move up
property ladder
- Protecting assets and supporting new supply through effective
oversight of risks
HCA Design & Sustainability Role
HCA statutory duty from Housing and Regeneration Act 2008:
“Contribute to the achievement of sustainable development and good design in England, with a view to meeting the needs of people living in England.”
Working with government
Making the case for good design
Embed design-led thinking in the work culture of HCA staff and partners
Monitor, evaluate and enforce: Compliance / Quality Audits
Sharing knowledge and leading research
Sharing Knowledge and Leading
Research
Annual report Quality Counts
Analysis of quality audits (CA)
results carried out by OA DMs
Evidence based, resident satisfaction
and partner feedback
Key findings each year
Informs partner design workshop agenda in OAs
Outcomes support future policy work and business planning
14-15 Report to be published soon https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-and-communities-agency
Design Standards and Regulations
Housing Standards Review
This review aimed to simplify
government regulations and
standards into one key set,
driven by Building Regulations.
HSR technical consultation
concluded March 2015;
streamlined technical standards
published
HCA Design & Quality Standards
2007 Design and Quality
standards and compliance
regime remain in place for the
2011-15 AHP.
AHP and Future Programmes
AHP 2015 -18 No requirement to:
Meet DQS April 2007 (incl. CSH or BREEAM) Complete an HQI Assessment Achieve the physical aspects of SBD (refer to HSR Part Q – Security)
A requirement to provide information on: Whole Life Costs Space (for benchmarking purposes against NDSS) Y/N questions relating to NDSS requirements for built in storage,
bedroom size and width Accessibility (refer to HSR Part M – Accessibility) BFL12 (Y/N/Grade for monitoring and benchmarking purposes) Construction / Clients’ Commitments
CaSSH 2 HAPPI criteria
Refer to Non-mainstream Housing Design Guide
Homelessness Change Programme and Platform for Life Refer to HAPPI criteria and Non-mainstream Housing
Design Guide
Other specialist or new programmes?
All Change…so what’s out? (no longer monitored/required by HCA funded
development from AHP 15-18)
HCA mandatory minimum standards:
CSH
DQS / HQIs
Other technical standards:
LTH
SBD
All Change…so what’s stayed? (Retained / Recommended by HCA)
Used for assessment of bids:
• Building for Life 12
• Nationally Described Space Standard
benchmarks
• Whole Life Costing
• Construction Commitments /Clients’
Commitments
HCA Standards applicability by
Programme
All Change…so what’s new? (Applied through local authorities)
Changes to current Regulations:
AD Part M – Accessibility
AD Part G – Water
AD Part H - Waste
New Regulation:
AD Part Q - Security
New Planning Standard:
Nationally Described Space Standard
(where applied through planning)
Unaffected ‘Design’ standards
May still be required through planning:
• Building for Life 12
• Secured by Design Section 1 (Section 1: The
Development – Layout & Design)
• Manual for Streets
• Car parking: what works where
Contractual commitments
Submitted Standards (IMS - ‘Funder Approval of Developable
Scheme’)
• Submitted standards are the details of the developable scheme as
submitted on IMS in scheme profiles and approved by the HCA - therefore
agreed as part of the HCA contract.
• Providers are contractually committed to build out the schemes at the floor
area and quality levels (e.g. Building for Life score) as submitted on IMS.
• HCA will monitor partners’ performance on space, internal layouts and
external factors through IMS data returns.
• For further details on our requirements:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/affordable-homes-programme-
2015-to-2018-prospectus
Housing Standards Review
Issues Current HCA standards (AHP11-15)
HSR standard (AHP 15-18)
Energy Efficiency Code for Sustainable Homes
Level 3
Building regulation Part L
(CSH phased out 2015)
Build
ing R
egula
tions
Ma
nd
ato
ry Security Secured By Design physical
elements (part 2)
New regulation Part Q
PAS 24: 2012 doors and
windows.
Waste
Building regulation Part H Building regulation Part H
(added amenity clarification)
Accessibility
Building regulation Part M Building regulation Part M:
(Optional category 2 and 3)
Op
tio
na
l
Water Efficiency 105l/p /day (litres per person
per day) within CSH level 3
Building regulation part G,
125l/p/day:
(Optional 110 l/p /day)
Space Standards Required through HQI
HCA benchmarking NDSS
Internal layouts Required through HQI HCA will gather data at
submission stage on
bedroom sizes and storage
space
HC
A b
idd
ing
da
ta
su
bm
issio
n o
nly
External elements Required (through Building for
Life minimum scores)
Report score achieved
against Building for Life 12
Approved Document M: Access to
and use of buildings
M4 – Accessibility
Three new optional requirements set by the Local Authority at
planning stage:
Category 1 – visitable dwellings (current Building Regs Part M)
Category 2 – accessible & adaptable dwellings (version of Lifetime
Homes)
Category 3 – wheelchair user dwellings (wheelchair standards)
Dwellings must meet the requirements of M4(1) unless a condition
is imposed to meet the requirements of M4(2) or M4(3)
Approved Document M: Access to
and use of buildings
M4 – Accessibility
M4(1) Category 1: visitable dwellings
No change to the technical requirements of existing Part M, Section 6 – 10
M4(2) Category 2: accessible & adaptable dwellings
Optional requirement for local authorities
Broadly equivalent to the Lifetime Homes Standard, however:
No requirement for a through-floor-lift, hoist, temporary bed space at entrance level or turning circles in living and dining spaces
Stair width minimum 850mm
Modified WC approach zone
Approved Document M: Access to
and use of buildings
M4 – Accessibility
M4(3) Category 3: wheelchair user dwellings
Optional requirement
Definitions: 2a - Wheelchair adaptable dwellings (those constructed with the potential to be adapted for a wheelchair user) and 2b - Wheelchair accessible dwellings (those which are constructed for immediate occupation by a wheelchair user).
Note: 2b is applicable where there is a planning condition – usually for housing where the end occupant is known – often affordable housing as opposed to housing for private sale.
Approved Document M: Access to
and use of buildings
M4 – Accessibility
M4(3) Category 3: wheelchair user dwellings
Minimum hall or landing width 1050mm
Minimum door width 850mm, irrespective of the direction of entry
Wheelchair storage and transfer space
Minimum areas of general built-in storage to be provided based on number of bedrooms
Provision of through-floor lifting device for 2 storey dwellings
Minimum combined floor areas for living/dining/kitchen space, e.g. 27m2 for dwelling with 3 bed spaces
Minimum length of kitchen worktop
Height adjustable or lowerable section of worktop with open leg room below.
Clear access zones and manoeuvring spaces in main bedroom
Approved Document M: Access to
and use of buildings
M4 – Accessibility
M4(3) Category 3: wheelchair user dwellings
Different clear approach zones around sanitaryware specified for
wheelchair adaptable/wheelchair accessible dwellings and
situations:
Approved Document G: Optional
Building Regulation for higher water
efficiency
Water Approved Document Part G
• Revised document
• Calculated water use to be no more than 125 litres per person per day
• Optional requirement of 110 litres per person per day imposed by planning requirement where there is a local need
• LPAs expected to follow Environment Agency guidelines on ‘water stressed’ areas
• Subject to viability
• Equivalent to CSH Level 3, which required 105 litres
Approved Document H: Drainage
and waste disposal
Waste Approved Document Part H
• Revised document
• Amended in an attempt to tackle “bin blight” through design
• Will also apply where a dwelling is provided through a material
change of use
• Guidance on recycling in BS5906:205
• Guidance in “Avoiding rubbish design” (NHBC)
Approved Document Q: Security
Security Approved Document Part Q
• New document
• New security requirement in Building
Regulations for all new homes
• Focuses on security standards for doors and
windows only to meet PAS 24:2012
• Doors and windows that demonstrate
compliance with “Secured by Design” provisions
will also meet Part Q – see ‘New Homes 2014’
Approved Document L:
Conservation of Fuel and Power
Fuel and Power Approved Document Part L
• No change to regulation
• Any decision to design buildings to performance levels beyond the current Part L regulations will be voluntary
• Local energy standards allowed (but capped at Code 4 or eq)
• Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation (July 2015)
• Energy standards will be kept under review and current standards “allowed time to become established”
• Government focussing on improvements to existing stock
• EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires “nearly zero energy buildings” to be delivered from 2021, and from January 2019 in the public sector
Nationally Described Space
Standard
• New optional Standard
• A single space standard that can be adopted by planning
authorities.
• Sets out minimum floor areas for new dwellings
• Supersedes the interim ‘Level 1’ space standard used in
consultation documents
• Optional for local authorities and must be incorporated in Local
Plan – subject to need and viability testing
• Applies to public and private development
• Responsibility for compliance rests with the local authority,
through Planning and/or Building Control
Nationally Described Space
Standard Minimum gross internal floor areas and storage (m2)
Number of
bedrooms
Number of
bedspaces
1 storey dwellings 2 storey dwellings 3 storey dwellings Built-in storage
Studio 1p 39 (37)* 1.0
1b 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
Nationally Described Space
Standard
• Minimum floor to ceiling height of 2.3m for 75% of GIA
• Single bedrooms to be minimum 7.5m2 and at least 2.15m
wide
• Double (or twin) bedrooms to be minimum 11.5m2 and one at
least 2.75m wide – others to be at least 2.55m wide
Nationally Described Space
Standard Comparison with other space standards (2 storey) (m2)
Dwelling Type
Level 1 HQI 2011-15 minima
Parker Morris (1961)
London Housing Design Guide
Nationally Described Space Standard
HQI 2011-15 Nationally Described Space Standard
Gross Internal Floor Area (2 storey) (m2) Storage (m2)
2b3p 68 57 - - 70 2.25 2.00
2b4p 77 67 72 83 79 3.00 2.00
3b4p 81 67 72 87 84 3.00 2.50
3b5p 90 82 82 96 93 3.75 2.50
3b6p 99 95 92 - 102 4.50 2.50
4b5p 94 82 82 100 97 3.75 3.00
4b6p 103 95 92 109 106 4.50 3.00
4b7p 112 108 - - 115 5.25 3.00
4b8p 121 118 - - 124 6.00 3.00
5b6p 107 95 - - 110 4.50 3.50
5b7p 121 108 - - 119 5.25 3.50
5b8p 125 118 - - 128 6.00 3.50
6b7p 120 108 - - 123 5.25 4.00
6b8p 129 118 - - 132 6.00 4.00
Space standard comparison –
dwellings on one floor
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1b1p 1b2p 2b3p 2b4p 3b4p 3b5p 3b6p
Level 1 2015-18 benchmark (m2) (AHP15-18)
HQI 2011-15 minima (m2)
Parker Morris (1961)
London Housing Design Guide
HSR revised space standard (Sept 2014)
Space standard comparison –
dwellings on two floors
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
2b3p 2b4p 3b4p 3b5p 3b6p 4b5p 4b6p 4b7p 4b8p 5b6p 5b7p 5b8p 6b7p 6b8p
Level 1 2015-18 benchmark (m2) (AHP15-18)
HQI 2011-15 minima (m2)
Parker Morris (1961)
London Housing Design Guide
HSR revised space standard (Sept 2014)
Space standard comparison –
dwellings on three floors
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
3b4p 3b5p 3b6p 4b5p 4b6p 4b7p 4b8p 5b6p 5b7p 5b8p 6b7p 6b8p
Level 1 2015-18 benchmark (m2) (AHP15-18)
HQI 2011-15 minima (m2)
Parker Morris (1961)
London Housing Design Guide
HSR revised space standard (Sept 2014)
Space standard comparison –
storage
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1b1p 1b2p 2b3p 2b4p 3b4p 3b5p 3b6p 4b5p 4b6p 4b7p 4b8p 5b6p 5b7p 5b8p 6b7p 6b8p
HQI 2011-15 (m2 shelf space)
HQI 2011-15 (m2 floor space)
HSR revised space standard (Sept 2014) (m2)(floor space) *
*HSR 2014 Built-in storage areas are included within the overall GIA and include an allowance of 0.5m2 for fixed services or equipment
The HCA obligation to design quality
• House type claimed to be 3B5P
• No floor or room areas shown
• No scale recognised
• Plans not furnished nor circulation spaces shown
• No provision for a wheelchair user
The HCA obligation to design quality
• What happens when you try to live in it?
• Where do we keep food, plates and dishes?
• Where does my daughter do her homework?
• Where does my son keep his toys?
Optional Requirements (Water, Access and Space)
Apply where a planning authority makes it a condition of planning approval (in line with the Local Plan)
Planning practice guidance will set out sources of information that would help the planning authority demonstrate a need
Where the requirement applies it becomes a building control (not planning) matter
It is the responsibility of the person carrying out the work to inform building control if the optional requirement applies
Optional Requirement Process
Building Regulations – transitional
provisions
Part Q and Building Regulations optional requirements not available before 1 October 2015
These cannot be applied through planning permission where a building notice, full plans deposit or initial notice given before that date
Any planning condition on security, access or water efficiency imposed where the building regulations application was given before 1 October, will be only a planning condition and not a building regulations requirement. Will not be enforced by building control bodies
So, where are we now?
Construction 2025: industrial strategy for
construction - government and industry in partnership
The vision for 2025:
Working together, industry and Government have
developed a clear and defined set of aspirations
for UK construction.
PEOPLE - An industry that is known for its talented and diverse workforce
SMART - An industry that is efficient and technologically advanced
SUSTAINABLE - An industry that leads the world in low-carbon and green construction exports
GROWTH - An industry that drives growth across the entire economy
LEADERSHIP - An industry with clear leadership from a Construction Leadership Council This vision will provide the basis for the industry to exploit its strengths in the global market.
In its broadest sense, quality is defined
as a degree of excellence: the extent to
which something is fit for its purpose.
Degree of Excellence
Thank you
Any Questions?
