All Comment articles – Page 9
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CommentHow the government’s ‘building beautiful’ theory will be put to the test in Kent
As the Duchy of Cornwall proposes a new 2,500-home Poundbury-style scheme in Kent, Paul Smith argues greater competition is the real key to improving housing design
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CommentThe only way out of the housing crisis is to build more social homes
We need everyone to get behind a long-term investment plan, says Peabody’s Elly Hoult
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CommentThe Office for Place can help embed quality design in our neighbourhoods
Now that design codes have been made a mandatory part of local plans, Ben Derbyshire considers what a good code actually looks like – and how it might work best in practice
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CommentGovernment must strike the right balance in welcome drive to raise standards
The intention behind the Competence and Conduct Standard is a good one but ministers must listen to industry feedback and beware a one-size-fits-all solution to a complex problem, argues Paul Hackett
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CommentTackling Cambridge’s water stress through a strategic approach to planning
Matt Clarke explains the complicated challenges to overcome in order to make Michael Gove’s 150,000 homes in Cambridge a reality
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CommentCohousing can help us build a better-connected and friendlier London
Cohousing communities are gaining popularity in the US, Nick Rogers argues they can help tackle isolation in the UK capital too and wants City Hall support for the idea.
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CommentIs the reputation of housebuilders really that bad?
Recent surveys suggest that housebuilders’ customers are more satisfied than is often portrayed in the media, writes David Thomas
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CommentWhat the second staircase guidance means for the industry
The long-awaited guidance will give developers confidence to proceed on projects, but debates will continue, writes Andrew Mellor
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CommentLessons from Australia: What England’s social housing system could learn from down under
Matthew Bailes recently attended a housing conference in Melbourne. Here he compares the Australian and English social housing systems and finds much to like in the former.
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CommentHow do we respond to the devastating affordable housing funding cuts in Scotland?
The social housing sector in Scotland is reeling from a 26% cut to affordable housing funding. But what can the sector do in response? asks Ryan Barclay
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CommentGove's changes to the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme make it a better financing option
Michael Gove’s rule changes and £3bn extra for low-cost loan scheme are positive for the housing sector, writes Gary Grigor
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CommentThe housing crisis and its zombie myths that won’t go away
Interest rates driving house prices and landbanking by housebuilders are myths that persist, despite being debunked several times over, writes Paul Smith
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CommentHow tenure-blind design can help chip away at social housing stigma
‘Poor doors’ can reinforce segregation based on economic status, but there are often good reasons why affordable housing is kept separate from market sale homes. This circle can be squared, writes James Zamchick
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CommentA lack of housing impacts every aspect of people’s lives
As we look ahead to the election, politicians must realise a shortage of homes affects physical and mental health, education, work, mobility and leisure, writes Richard Jones
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CommentWhy green belt development is sometimes the best
Building on the green belt is politically unpopular, but it can bring benefits that brownfield development cannot, argues Craig Pettit
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CommentSmall tweaks can help nudge the decarbonisation revolution forward
Today’s biggest challenge is to reduce the climate damage from our existing homes, writes Chris Brown
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CommentMeeting the design code challenge
Design codes are now required to be embedded in local plans. Ben Derbyshire explains what local authorities and the housing sector need to consider.
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CommentAwaab’s Law and the Future Homes Standard consultations: Key impacts for social housing providers and contractors
Multiple sets of new standards for homes will give providers plenty to think about, including costs and skills, write Matthew Scott and Megan Hinch
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CommentHousebuilders must beware the looming land shortage
The worsening availability of developable land could soon mean housebuilders having to choose between being more aggressive in the land market or shrinking their business, warns Paul Smith
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CommentSecond staircase rule highlights benefits of earlier due diligence
Michael’s Gove plan to mandate second staircases in blocks above 18 metres makes necessary a shift in housebuilders’ approach to compliance, argues Phil Smith.