Local measures governing housing standards will be slashed from 100 to just ten with guidance to the regulations reduced from the current 1500 pages to 80.
Communities Minister Don Foster said: “At a time when we are working closely with British business to create jobs and build a stronger economy it’s essential the government plays its part by taking off the bureaucratic handbrake that holds back house building and adds unnecessary cost.
“I’m proposing to cut needless red tape to let house builders get on with the real job of building the high quality new homes that people need, especially families and first time buyers.”
Over 100 housing standards are currently available to councils to apply locally, including the following which are facing abolition:
- requirements for rainwater harvesting in places that don’t suffer from water shortages
- demands for solar and wind energy sources that can’t physically fit onto the roofs of apartment buildings
- a stipulation for multiple phone lines in home offices, irrespective of need and in addition to broadband connection
- requirements to build accessible flats on floors that can’t be reached by disabled people
- rules on window sizes that include a ‘dirty window factor’ – imposing bigger windows to allow for dirt on them, rather than assuming people will have the common sense to clean them to let more light in
The government is however inviting views on minimum space and access standards that would allow councils to seek bigger homes to meet local needs, including those of older and disabled people.
The proposed changes are now out to consultation and a full list of regulations facing the axe can be found here
No changes are being made to building regulations or planning rules.
David Orr, chief executive of National Housing Federation said: “We were involved in the housing standards review because we want to see greater consistency and clarity across standards for all new housing.
“Moving from 100 standards to 10 is a good start in reducing red tape while safeguarding good quality home building but we look forward to seeing further details of the review.”
