13 March 2014 | By Laurna Robertson | Inside Housing

The government has today confirmed that it will develop a national space standard for councils to replace the myriad of standards currently used across the country.

In its response to its housing standards review, the government said the space standard would be available to councils ‘where there is a need’ and ‘where it would not stop development’. 

The response also confirms the government plans to cut housing standards from 100 to 10 with some of the standards being abolished. These include:

 

1. Requirements for rainwater harvesting in places that don’t suffer from water shortages
2. A requirement for more than one phone line to be installed – regardless of need
3. A requirement for compost bins and secure sheds in gardens

 

Accessibility may become an ‘optional building regulation’, which will only be applied where it is right to do so. This would mean developers would only have to apply different standards for older people or wheelchair users when the council applies the condition. Water efficiency may also fall under this category.

Stephen Williams, communities minister, said: ‘The current system of housing standards is complicated and confusing and is ripe for reform.

‘That’s why we’re planning to make the whole system easier to understand and follow, consolidating housing standards so that all the requirements are in one place .

‘This will enable councils and developers to better work together to build high-quality, sustainable and secure homes in communities across the country.’

 

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