Manchester has adopted London's established housing design guide as an interim measure until officers can draw up the city's own quality, space and sustainability thresholds that will apply to all new residential development.
Confidential likes this.
We need to ensure that the quality of accommodation that is built in Manchester will provide homes long into the future
Sir Richard Leese revealed last month that it was on the cards but the speed that it is being brought in is probably an indication of some of the poor quality schemes that are landing on planners desks in increasing numbers.
The city knows it has approved some crap in the past, and would probably argue it was because they had no basis to refuse, but having a design guide to wave in front of a developers face will hopefully send the less ambitious knocking on another city's door.
A recent report to the city's Executive committee entitled: 'Improving the Standards of Residential Developments in the City says: "As the next wave of residential development is now starting to come forward, we do need to consider whether it would be desirable to provide developers with a greater level of clarity about the quality of accommodation that is required in order to deliver the Council’s objectives in this regard.
“Whilst developing in the city centre and fringes, and other areas of the City, can provide challenges, we do need to ensure that the quality of accommodation that is built in Manchester will provide homes long into the future. Therefore, officers do consider that it would be appropriate to introduce guidelines in Manchester.
"There are no nationally adopted standards or requirements for the size of units, but it is generally accepted that the London Housing Design Guide reflects best practice. This is supported by RIBA. Therefore, it is suggested that the space standards within the London Guide are adopted as being appropriate on an interim basis in advance of specific guidance being produced for the City. It is known that development that is now underway in the city centre meets these requirements which demonstrate that the standards are achievable."
Thoughts on Manchester's own residential guide are that it includes 10 key indicators
- location
- visual impact, layout and landscaping
- open space
- routes and movement
- size
- layout
- noise, light, services and adaptability
- accessibility within the unit
- sustainability
- external environment
Confidential thinks they should add in neighbourhood infrastructure, joined up development, longevity and legacy and most importantly perhaps security.
When UrbanBubble revealed its, albeit small, survey of city residents, security came a close third behind price and place in what affected apartment choice.
The council report goes on:"The planned significant increase in residential development over the next decade and beyond demands a new approach to design quality standards, aligned to our wider planning development protocols on quality and sustainability. The scale and diversity of the residential opportunities available also underpins the need for a new framework to guide a quality approach across all developments."
With Manchester the fastest growing city in the UK and 50,000 more homes needed in the next decade it's no wonder it currently has the air of a property gold rush town and fair play to the city for trying to set new residential standards.
