CIBSE welcomes the publication of the Proud to Call Home report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment.
The report rightly highlights that the Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes must be matched by a clear commitment to quality in design, construction and long-term performance. Homes should not only be built quickly, but built well. As the report recognises, quality housing must provide healthy, comfortable and affordable places to live. That means homes that perform as designed – warm in winter, cool in summer, energy efficient, and resilient to a changing climate.
Key recommendations in the report include:
• Making design reviews mandatory in the planning process for developments of more than 250 homes and for strategically important or historic sites.
• Requiring local authorities to appoint a chief planning officer at cabinet level to help drive quality in local plans and in negotiations with developers as they come under pressure to meet new housing targets.
• Improving placemaking by considering legislative options to ensure developer contributions, such as Section 106 funding, are spent by local authorities for their agreed purpose, including monies ring-fenced for green spaces, and within agreed timescales under a 'use it or lose it' approach.
• Driving up build quality and consumer confidence by setting a minimum number of inspections by building inspectors and warranty providers during construction.
• Mandating a 'soft landings' approach and greater post-occupancy evaluation of energy performance in new homes to help close the performance gap and ensure homeowners get the best from their systems.
• Improving consumer protection by mandating housebuilder participation in a single consumer code and registration with the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) and New Homes Ombudsman. Currently, only half of new homes are covered.
CIBSE particularly supports the report’s emphasis on closing the performance gap between design and real-world operation, including the recommendation for a ‘soft landings’ approach and greater post-occupancy evaluation. Ensuring that building systems are properly designed, installed, commissioned and understood by occupants is essential if new homes are to deliver the energy performance, comfort and low running costs promised at design stage. Delivering this at scale will require continued investment in professional skills across the built environment.
Engineers, designers and building professionals will play a critical role in ensuring that new homes meet high standards of safety, energy efficiency and environmental performance. This report provides a timely reminder that housing delivery should not be measured by numbers alone.
By embedding quality, performance and good placemaking at the heart of delivery, the Government has an opportunity to create homes and communities that people will be proud to live in for generations.
The 'Proud to call home' report can be downloaded HERE