Housing: Construction

(asked on 8th July 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that housing and planning policy takes account of best practice in architecture and design; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Brandon Lewis Portrait
Brandon Lewis
This question was answered on 16th July 2015

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that good design is indivisible from good planning and should contribute to making places better for people. Our planning guidance reinforces this strong focus on design and includes tools which local authorities may use.

We have already set out our aspirations for high quality design through our housing programmes such as Starter Homes, Housing Zones, Estates Regeneration, promoting locally-led garden cities and work on large housing sites. We are also encouraging industry-led innovation, such as through support for the Housing Design Awards.

In January this year, my Department set up a design panel to help raise the bar on housing design across the country. The Panel involves experienced representatives from the housing and design industry, including architects and design bodies, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects and Design Council.

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