People Should Live 'Never More Than 10 Minutes' From Basic Facilities

When designing neighbourhoods, the aspiration should be for everyone to live within a five-minute walk of ‘significant’ green space or a park and ‘never be more than 10 minutes’ from basic facilities.This is one of several recommendations set out in a report – Home Comforts – published by the Place Alliance. It comprises the results of a survey of 2,510 households across the UK to find out how the design of homes and neighbourhoods affected their experience of the lockdown implemented to stem the spread of Covid-19. It finds that houses are more comfortable than flats.  Read more on the Planning Portal.

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/news/article/736/planning_news_-_22_october_2020?utm_source=PPQ+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1957e3ecc3-Newsletter_11072019_HTML_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_734e0b63a9-1957e3ecc3-7266185#one 

Construction ‘Blueprint’ To Tackle Climate Emergency

A coalition of leading architects, engineers, and building professionals have launched a new Climate Emergency Design Guide, providing a blueprint for how the construction industry can react to the climate emergency. The guide, published by LETI – the London Energy Transformation Initiative – outlines the requirements of new buildings to ensure climate change targets are met, as well as marking the start of a milestone new phase: a consensus on how to design new buildings. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/construction-blueprint-released-to-tackle-climate-emergency/

Good Design Could Help Make Build To Rent Popular In the UK

Good design is the secret for the future success of the build to rent sector in the UK with developers needing to look beyond traditional layouts, says a new report. Britain is on the verge of a rental revolution with around £30 billion of institutional investment earmarked to build and manage homes for rent, but success means creating homes that foster a sense of community, according to the report, which says Build to Rent could bring in substantial additional finance for housing. For example, it says that getting tenants to know their neighbours will help encourage them to stay for the long term, saving operators money on costly voids. Read more on the Property Wire website.

Report Says Crime Can Be 'Designed Out' Of Housing

New research claims that the design of new homes and estates could help cut crime levels. Research conducted for the government by Design Council Cabe identified certain features of modern urban housing developments which had a direct effect on crime, anti-social behaviour and neighbour disputes. Large rear parking courts, paths and spaces that are not overlooked and cul-de-sacs with pedestrian access between them were found to be key design features to avoid. The authors hope the research will be used by police forces across the country to help influence the layout and design of new proposed neighbourhoods and prevent crime. Read more on the Design Council website.