The document discusses changes to housing standards and regulations in the UK. It outlines how the Housing Standards Review will shift responsibility for certain standards from the national Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) to local authorities, and phase out the Code for Sustainable Homes. Specific standards around energy efficiency, security, accessibility and more will now be addressed through building regulations instead of separate HCA requirements. The impact on HCA partners and what this means for housing design is also examined.

1. Successful places
with homes and jobs
A NATIONAL
AGENCY
WORKING
LOCALLY
National Policy,
Standards and
knowledge sharing
February 2015
Jane Briginshaw
Design and Sustainability

2. HCA design & sustainability role
 HCA statutory duty from Housing and Regeneration
Act 2008, to:
“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: Standards; zero carbon
 Making the case for good design: Quality Counts;
knowledge sharing
 Embed design-led thinking in the work culture of
HCA staff and partners: Design workshops; thematic
workshops
 Monitor evaluate and enforce: Compliance Audit /
quality audits

3. Housing Standards Review:
HCA Design and Quality standards
 Prospectus for new affordable homes
programme published January 2014
 HSR Ministerial announcement 13 March
 Prospectus addendum published 27 March
 2007 Design and Quality standards and
compliance regime remain in place for the
2011-15 AHP.
 Land disposals, standards determined
locally
 2nd HSR technical consultation published
Friday 12 September a further WMS
closed on 7 November 2014.

4. What does this mean for the HCA?
 The HCA will no longer require specific design and sustainability standards as a condition of
funding.
 Standards will be applied through the Building Regulations (for energy, security and waste) with
optional requirements being introduced in the Building Regulations for the first time (accessibility
and water efficiency).
 HCA will monitor partners’ performance on space, internal and external layouts through IMS data
returns.
What does this mean for HCA Partners?
 Responsibility for the application of optional standards in the Building Regulations will pass to
Local Authorities with compliance passing to Building Control.
 Responsibility for the Nationally Described Space Standard will pass to Local Authorities.
 With effect from the time that the Deregulation Bill is passed (expected early 2015), Local
Authorities will not be able to require higher energy requirements than the Building Regulations
through the Code for Sustainable Homes (which will be wound down). From the time of the
Statement of Policy new plan policies should not refer to the CSH.
Housing Standards Review

5. Housing Standards Review
Issue Current AHP 2011-15
housing standards
2015-18 AHP (HSR
technical consultation)
Energy Efficiency Code for Sustainable
Homes Level 3
Building regulation Part L
only. (Code phased out
from early 2015)1
BuildingRegulation
Security Secured By Design
physical elements (part
2)2
PAS 24: 20123 doors and
windows. (New regulation
Part Q)
Waste Building regulation Part
H
Building regulation Part H
(added amenity
clarification)
Accessibility Building regulation Part
M
Building regulation Part M:
Optional requirements for
category 2 and 34
Building
Regulation
Optional
Water Efficiency 105l/p /day (litres per
person per day) within
CSH level 3
Building regulation part G,
125l/p/day: Optional
requirement of 110 l/p /day5
Space Standards Required through HQI HCA benchmarking6
N
D
S
S
Internal layout
requirements such as
furniture layouts and
storage
Required through HQI HCA will gather data at
detailed scheme
submission stage on
bedroom sizes and storage
space
HCAbiddingdata
submissiononly
External elements –
location, visual impact,
open space, routes and
movements.
Required (through
Building for Life
minimum scores)
Report score achieved
against Building for Life 12
(Red / Amber/Green)
Comparison of Current Affordable Homes Programme standards &
Housing Standards Review proposals

6. Accessibility - main changes to
current standards Category 1
• size of a passenger lift updated
Category 2
• step-free access
• no need to allow for a through-floor lift
or overhead hoisting
Category 3
• distinction between ‘wheelchair
accessible’ and ‘wheelchair adaptable’
• no need for a covered parking space
• number of lifts not specified
• wider doors, larger lift shaft
• bathroom and shower for 5p+
HSR What does it mean

7. Housing Standards Review
Number
of
bedrooms
Number
of bed-
spaces
1 storey dwellings 2 storey dwellings 3 storey dwellings Built in
storage
Lond HSR2 HSR1 HQI Lond HSR2 HSR1 HQI Lond HSR2 HSR1 HQI
Studio 1p 39 (37) 38 30 1.0
1b 2p 50 50 47 45 X 58 x 1.5
2b 3p 61 61 60 57 X 70 68 2.0
4p 70 70 69 67 83 79 77
3b 4p 74 74 73 67 87 84 81 102 90 86 2.5
5p 86 86 84 75 96 93 90 82 99 95 85
6p 95 95 93 85 102 99 95 108 104 100
4b
5p 90 90 88 75 100 97 94 106 103 99 85
3.06p 99 99 97 85 107 106 103 95 113 112 108 100
7p 108 107 115 112 121 117 108
8p 117 115 124 121 130 126 118
5b
6p 103 101 85 110 107 95 116 112 100
3.57p 112 110 119 121 125 121 108
8p 121 119 128 125 134 130 118
6b
7p 116 123 120 129 125 108 4.0
8p 125 132 129 138 134 118
Housing Standards Review space comparison table
Key: Lond - London Housing Design Guide
HSR 1 - HSR level 1 space standard – March 2014
HSR 2 - HSR revised space standard – September 2014
HQI - HQI minimum
(London, for dwellings designed for more than 6 people, at least 10m2 GIA should be added for each additional persons)
(HQI – 7+ bedspace add 10m2 per bedspace)

8. What could this mean for houses?
(Source: Levitt Bernstein)
‘distinctive… in accordance with all relevant technical & building
regulations, in particular the Code…’
‘images depict typical
XXX house type’

9. • no built-in storage except
a cupboard over the
stairs
• not enough storage
space in the kitchen
• not enough space in
bedrooms 2 and 3
• no floor or room areas
shown
• plans not furnished or to
a recognised scale
• no provision for a
wheelchair user
HSR What does it mean for architects?
15.3m2
9.7m2
8.3m
2
5.4m
2
10.9m2
What happens when you try and live in it?
(Source: Levitt Bernstein)

10.  prioritise core themes
– where the HCA takes a lead in gathering and disseminating
information.
 use Quality Counts evidence base, as the
starting point
 consult with partners
 include information from other areas,
– such as the Estates Regeneration Fund
Knowledge Sharing

11. Short term priorities (considering achievability and likely impact)
 Overheating and ventilation: Good deal of information produced and
a high need.
 Noise transfer: A perennial theme with high impact for residents
 Gardens on constrained sites: Repeatedly features in Quality Counts
and provokes strong views from residents.
Longer term priorities
 Estates Regeneration: High impact and need. It is a much bigger and
more complex area.
 Waste solutions: This would also have high impact.
Knowledge Sharing

12. HCA Design and Sustainability
webpages / Gov.uk
 HCA website to be incorporated in GOV.UK
 Focus on “user need”
 How do you use the HCA website D&S
resources?
– What can we do better?
– What would you find useful?