RIBA names and shames “shoebox” developers
September 14 2011
Rich's remarks followed publication of a report, ‘The Case for Space’, in which the architect’s body establishes that the average floorspace of a three bedroom home is 8% less than the recommended minimum requirements enforced in the capital.
At present homes built in London must meet minimum space standards as set out in the London plan – currently set at 96sq/m for a three bedroom home, but elsewhere in the UK equivalent homes were found to be just 88sq/m in size (on average).
Rich said: “Our homes should be places that enhance our lives and well-being. However, as our new research confirms, thousands of cramped houses – shameful shoe box homes – are being churned out all over the country, depriving households of the space they need to live comfortably and cohesively.
“In a rush to build quickly and cheaply we risk storing up unnecessary problems for the future.”
Of the developers surveyed Crest Nicholson fared worst with the average size of their three bedroom home just 84 sq/m, followed closely by Lovell Partnerships (85sq/m) and Bellway (86sq/m).
Developer floorspace averages for a three bed house:
- Berkeley – 98sq/m
- Galliford Try – 90sq/m
- Barratt – 89sq/m
- Taylor Wimpey – 88sq/m
- Persimmon – 88sq/m
- Bellway – 86sq/m
- Lovell partnerships – 85sq/m
- Crest Nicholson – 84sq/m
"In the UK people buy homes based on the number of rooms. In the whole of the rest of Europe pretty much, and certainly North America, you know how many square metres you are buying when you buy it - and that's not available to UK consumers"
An additional 8sq/m of space would be sufficient to comfortably accommodate a coffee table and three seat sofa - or a single bedroom
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2 Comments
#1 Posted by kas on 14 Sep 2011 at 12:40 PM
It's funny that the price of the house in the UK depends mostly on the number of bedrooms, I've seen many flats where a spacious nice bedroom was split into two small "boxes" so the seller can say it is 2 bedroom place rather than one bedroom. I think the rest of Europe is right counting the square meters.
#2 Posted by Homeless...But Not Depraved! on 14 Sep 2011 at 20:51 PM
“Our homes should be places that enhance our lives and well-being. However, as our new research confirms, thousands of cramped houses – shameful shoe box homes – are being churned out all over the country, depriving households of the space they need to live comfortably and cohesively.
This is certainly the case.
But how are we to account for this shocking state of affairs?
I think it is because British developers have an unhealthy obsession with the elevator scene in the movie 'The Producers', and are seeking to recreate it in as many new dwellings as they possibly can. This is why buying a home constructed in modern day Britain is to condemn oneself to a nightmare of frottage involving family, friends, pets, double-glazing salesmen, and Jehovah's Witnesses, amongst others.
This is why I say: End these frott holes now!
This is certainly the case.
But how are we to account for this shocking state of affairs?
I think it is because British developers have an unhealthy obsession with the elevator scene in the movie 'The Producers', and are seeking to recreate it in as many new dwellings as they possibly can. This is why buying a home constructed in modern day Britain is to condemn oneself to a nightmare of frottage involving family, friends, pets, double-glazing salesmen, and Jehovah's Witnesses, amongst others.
This is why I say: End these frott holes now!
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Read next: World’s first ‘greenspace’ map launched
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