I see the Secretary of State has announced that the Nationally
Described Space Standards will be required to be met in all
residential Prior Approval schemes. This is good news for
quality/amenity in new development.
However, I'm not sure if I have read the details correctly, but it
only applies to Prior Approval schemes? So what about schemes coming
through the normal application system? The Framework says that
"Policies MAY also make use of the nationally described space
standard, where the need for an internal space standard can be
justified." (My emphasis). So as I understand it you can only
really use the national space standards as a reason for refusal if you
have a policy in your adopted plan which has evidenced the need to use
the standards. That means all PD resi will need to meet the standards
but other development wont. I realise that the London Plan includes
the requirement, but what about everywhere else?
In terms of justifying the need, surely the space standards
themselves as self-justifying? They are standards, set out by
Government and stating that rooms/dwellings should be a minimum size.
So what is their purpose? Surely it's to ensure a minimum level of
amenity/quality/satisfactory living environment. In which case that is
why they are needed. Surely the acceptability of the size of a room
you are living in does not vary from place to place?
I'd suggest that the National Space Standards should be mandatory
across the board, particularly in the context of the high quality
homes that are going to be required in the new planning system.
Personally I think they should be part of the Building Regulations and
not a matter for planning policy because all residential properties
should meet them.
I am happy to be corrected if the move is to cover all resi
developments but the information I have read has only mentioned Prior Approval.
Cheers all
