Housebuilders must 'speak the same design language' as planners and funding bodies, says report: toolkit launched

Housebuilders need to speak the same design language as the planners and funding bodies that assess their proposals. A new online ‘tool-kit’ helps both groups discuss objectively the design merits of a housing development.

Developed by CABE and funded by the Housing Corporation, Evaluating housing principles step by step helps developers, housing associations and their design teams show assessors how proposed developments meet the Building for Life standard – the national benchmark for well-designed housing and neighbourhoods.

Developers need to know how to make the best Building for Life case for their proposals. The Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and a growing number of local authorities now require new housing developments to fulfil between 12 and 16 of the 20 Building for Life criteria.

The new guidance provides clear examples of the design-related material – diagrams, plans, visuals and models – clients can include in grant application tenders or design and access statements; and explains how that material should be evaluated.

Matt Bell, director of campaigns at CABE, described how the ‘tool-kit’ will help. 'Developers can prepare accurate and relevant information that will make their case clearly and effectively. Assessors will find it helpful in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of a proposed development, and make it easier to eliminate spurious subjective concerns.'

The new tool-kit is available to download for free from the CABE and Building for Life websites.