A call for an improvement to the design of new homes is being backed by the housing Secretary of State, James Brokenshire.

The report, Building More, Building Beautiful, says that almost half of people surveyed across the UK believe not enough new homes are being built.

But, says the report, ‘nimbysm’ is often related to people’s concerns as to how new developments will look.

It says: “It is important new homes are built in a way that people like.”

It goes on: “Simply put, not enough new homes are built with beauty in mind. Decisions over space are nearly always financial, not aesthetic, and so the aesthetic needs of the community are too often marginalised.”

The report adds: “If a record number of new homes are to be built in the coming years, therefore, let us aim for them to be beautiful.”

The report, published by think tank Policy Exchange, calls for every local planning authority to produce a design and style guide within 18 months.

It says that there should be panels of advisers for every new housing development of over ten units. A third of panel members should be local architects and a third members of the public who either already live in new homes and/or are likely to move to the new development.

Brokenshire said in a foreword to the report: “We want to see local communities intimately engaged in helping to shape the future of the development in their area, feeding in their views on the design and style of new developments, and helping local authorities create style guides and codes which developers can use.”

https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Building-More-Building-Beautiful.pdf