Planning, regulation and space standards in England: from 'homes for heroes' to 'slums of the future'. Issue 5 (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clifford, Ben; Ferm, Jessica
• Is Part Of: Town planning review. Volume 92:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 537
• Page End: 560
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: space standards -- regulation -- planning -- England -- permitted development -- deregulation -- housing; City planning -- Periodicals; 307.1216
• DOI: 10.3828/tpr.2021.11
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-0020

Abstract

Abstract : The regulation of housing quality has a long history in England. As the state itself increasingly became a housing developer in the twentieth century, design standards were subject to self-regulation. Through this, the idea that housing quality includes minimum dwelling sizes – space standards – has entered public consciousness. The 2010–2015 coalition government introduced suggested space standards through planning control, but also extended the range of 'permitted development' – a form of deregulation – where space standards could not be applied. In this paper we explore the history of space standards in England and what these tell us about planning regulation.