Taking the Easy Way Out: Developers Warned on Poor Quality Homes

Timothy Waitt, Partner Housing & Property Disputes | October 28, 2019

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has warned developers building poor-quality homes that they will have to “change their practices” as he called for a “systematic change” in Britain’s approach to planning and design – as reported in on 24/10/19 in the Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/housing-secretary-robert-jenrick-warns-developers-over-poor-homes-p2326f92x

The Government is tackling poorly designed homes – not poorly constructed homes with the launch of a National Design Guide. This reminds planning authority that planning permission should be refused for developments that failed to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions.

The guide specifically discourages features that create barriers or segregation within a development. So poor doors and exclusive playgrounds are out (see “Poor doors: the Segregation of London” & “Too Poor to Play”.

It encourages well-designed building which are functional and sustainable. Things such as simple electrics, lighting and water systems which are discreet, well-maintained and easy to access to maintain. It is a sign of the bad design and bad quality housing that the Guide needs to state these obvious facts.

Good design also means that places are robust, durable and easy to look after. Regrettably, again, this is a feature which is all too often missing from new housing.

Addressing bad design is positive but it seems like the easy way out for the government. It doesn’t touch on the bigger and more difficult issues of poor construction and appalling workmanship that we see on a day to day basis. None of these issues will be addressed by the new design guidelines.

It is time for the government to focus on the problems buyers of new build homes are facing which stem from workmanship not design. Missing insulation, defective floors, leaks, crumbling mortar, badly constructed brick walls and other serious structural problems.

It’s time the government took action to make sure builders get these basics right.

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