By Ray Furlong BBC News New homes in England are being built smaller than almost anywhere else in Europe, a new exhibition reveals. Are the gleaming new apartments buildings of the past decade the inner-city slums of tomorrow?
By Ray Furlong BBC News New homes in England are being built smaller than almost anywhere else in Europe, a new exhibition reveals. Are the gleaming new apartments buildings of the past decade the inner-city slums of tomorrow?
The streets of Barking have been transformed in recent years. Multi-coloured housing blocks have rejuvenated the drab skyline of this deprived corner of east London, in developments that have been widely praised for regenerating the area.
The streets of Barking have been transformed in recent years. Multi-coloured housing blocks have rejuvenated the drab skyline of this deprived corner of east London, in developments that have been widely praised for regenerating the area.
"My one-bedroom flat is really cool: brand new, wooden floors, open plan, nice furniture, spacious enough for two people," says a young woman from the Seychelles rushing home from work.
"My one-bedroom flat is really cool: brand new, wooden floors, open plan, nice furniture, spacious enough for two people," says a young woman from the Seychelles rushing home from work.
But another man, emerging from the lobby, has a different view. Children's education is affected if they've no space, and there's an environmental impact where people move to suburbs Ellis Woodman
But another man, emerging from the lobby, has a different view. Children's education is affected if they've no space, and there's an environmental impact where people move to suburbs Ellis Woodman
"The transformation will be good for Barking and the flats are all right, but it's just the storage space. If you've got your own furniture from a previous place it'll be extra congested, tight and small. But these are for like students and people that work during the week - it's not for families, or people who want to live here."
"The transformation will be good for Barking and the flats are all right, but it's just the storage space. If you've got your own furniture from a previous place it'll be extra congested, tight and small. But these are for like students and people that work during the week - it's not for families, or people who want to live here."
My unscientific straw poll of people coming in and out suggested that all the flats had gone on buy-to-let mortgages - everyone here was renting.
My unscientific straw poll of people coming in and out suggested that all the flats had gone on buy-to-let mortgages - everyone here was renting.
There's a similar story at another new development around the corner.
There's a similar story at another new development around the corner.
"My house at home had 320 square metres - my one-bedroom flat here is about 50 metres-squared," says Gavin Booth, who arrived from New Zealand two months ago. "I've got my wife and one child. It's OK but you don't have much space for yourself - three of us sleep in the one room."
"My house at home had 320 square metres - my one-bedroom flat here is about 50 metres-squared," says Gavin Booth, who arrived from New Zealand two months ago. "I've got my wife and one child. It's OK but you don't have much space for yourself - three of us sleep in the one room."
No standards
No standards
For Mr Booth, it's just part of the "expectation of people living round this area". Albeit "a bit of a culture shock".Shiny on the outside, cramped on the inside
For Mr Booth, it's just part of the "expectation of people living round this area". Albeit "a bit of a culture shock".Shiny on the outside, cramped on the inside
Seven-hundred miles away, at one of the world's major architecture shows, the culture of architecture is indeed the issue.
Seven-hundred miles away, at one of the world's major architecture shows, the culture of architecture is indeed the issue.
At the British pavilion of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2008, exhibitors are addressing the issue of modern housing in the UK.
At the British pavilion of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2008, exhibitors are addressing the issue of modern housing in the UK.
"The aim of the exhibition is to look at the culture of housing provision in Britain and to draw some conclusions by comparing with the cultures elsewhere in Europe," says curator Ellis Woodman.
"The aim of the exhibition is to look at the culture of housing provision in Britain and to draw some conclusions by comparing with the cultures elsewhere in Europe," says curator Ellis Woodman.
"Each of the architects in the exhibition is showing a British housing scheme and a foreign housing scheme. It turns out we're building the smallest dwellings in Western Europe. This is because England and Wales are the only parts of Europe without designated space standards."
"Each of the architects in the exhibition is showing a British housing scheme and a foreign housing scheme. It turns out we're building the smallest dwellings in Western Europe. This is because England and Wales are the only parts of Europe without designated space standards."
Mr Woodman highlights an exhibit by an architecture firm that designed social housing in London and Geneva. The British flats are about 30% smaller. It's evidence, he says, that shows minimum standards must be introduced, he says.
Mr Woodman highlights an exhibit by an architecture firm that designed social housing in London and Geneva. The British flats are about 30% smaller. It's evidence, he says, that shows minimum standards must be introduced, he says.
"It has impacts in all walks of life: children's education is affected if they've no space, and there's an environmental impact where people move to suburbs for space and then commute. Inner cities become the preserve of immigrants, poor people, and childless couples. The fear is that we're building the slums of the future."
Defunct standards
Pre-1980 standards
"It has impacts in all walks of life: children's education is affected if they've no space, and there's an environmental impact where people move to suburbs for space and then commute. Inner cities become the preserve of immigrants, poor people, and childless couples. The fear is that we're building the slums of the future." FLOOR AREA PER DWELLING Germany (2003): 113.9m²France (2002): 112.6m²Ireland (2003): 105m²England (1981-2001): 82.7m²Italy (2000): 81.5m² Source: Housing Statistics in the European Union 2004
Alone in the UK, Scotland does have legislation on minimum sizes for homes in the commercial sector. Northern Ireland has rules on social housing - while in England and Wales many local authorities also have size regulations for affordable housing. But none of this covers private sector developments. FLOOR AREA PER DWELLING Germany (2003): 113.9m²France (2002): 112.6m²Ireland (2003): 105m²England (1981-2001): 82.7m²Italy (2000): 81.5m² Source: Housing Statistics in the European Union 2004
Alone in the UK, Scotland does have legislation on minimum sizes for homes in the commercial sector. Northern Ireland has rules on social housing - while in England and Wales many local authorities also have size regulations for affordable housing. But none of this covers private sector developments.
Last year, English Partnerships, a national regeneration agency for England, announced it was adopting size standards based on the old Parker Morris standards that applied to council housing until 1980 - plus 10%.
Last year, English Partnerships, a national regeneration agency for England, announced it was adopting size standards based on the old Parker Morris standards that applied to council housing until 1980 - plus 10%.
And in June, London Mayor Boris Johnson said he wanted to revive a form of Parker Morris standards in the capital. It seems likely these will apply to affordable housing and private developments on London Development Agency land.
And in June, London Mayor Boris Johnson said he wanted to revive a form of Parker Morris standards in the capital. It seems likely these will apply to affordable housing and private developments on London Development Agency land.
But the housing industry is resistant to the idea of blanket statutory requirements, questioning whether they would be effective.
But the housing industry is resistant to the idea of blanket statutory requirements, questioning whether they would be effective.
John Slaughter, a director at the Homebuilders Federation, says bluntly they won't work.
John Slaughter, a director at the Homebuilders Federation, says bluntly they won't work.
"If you look at space standards you will be in danger of over-regulating the market and might add to costs of housing provision," says Mr Slaughter.
"If you look at space standards you will be in danger of over-regulating the market and might add to costs of housing provision," says Mr Slaughter. PARKER MORRIS STANDARDS Set of minimum criteria for good housing construction, design, and facilities, recommended by the 1961 report of the Central Housing Advisory Committee chaired by Sir Parker Morris
But if people seem to want bigger properties, why the surfeit of poky homes? There isn't enough land to meet supply, says Mr Slaughter.
But if people seem to want bigger properties, why the surfeit of poky homes? There isn't enough land to meet supply, says Mr Slaughter.
"Prior to the slowdown [it] meant we had very high land prices. A lot of other things were loaded on development including contributions to affordable housing and infrastructure provision. You really need to look at what the driver is for supply overall and tackle that.'
"Prior to the slowdown [it] meant we had very high land prices. A lot of other things were loaded on development including contributions to affordable housing and infrastructure provision. You really need to look at what the driver is for supply overall and tackle that.'
Back in Barking, a look at the site plans for these gleaming new apartments reveal many would not meet the minimum space standards required in, for example, Germany or Ireland. Perhaps a minimum requirement would prevent them being built at all. The developers declined to comment.
Back in Barking, a look at the site plans for these gleaming new apartments reveal many would not meet the minimum space standards required in, for example, Germany or Ireland. Perhaps a minimum requirement would prevent them being built at all. The developers declined to comment.
If supporters of legislation are looking to the government to offer some leadership on the issue, they risk being disappointed.
If supporters of legislation are looking to the government to offer some leadership on the issue, they risk being disappointed.
"We are working in partnership with industry to improve design, quality and environmental standards," says a spokesman for housing minister Caroline Flint. "[We] welcome their efforts to address these issues. We are keeping this situation under review on whether further measures are necessary."
"We are working in partnership with industry to improve design, quality and environmental standards," says a spokesman for housing minister Caroline Flint. "[We] welcome their efforts to address these issues. We are keeping this situation under review on whether further measures are necessary."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
I refuse to live in a shoebox and have therefore rented a very big Victorian house instead. It costs me less than a very small "luxury" apartment. If people don't want to live in very small houses, they should turn them down. We can't expect the government to do anything, since the won't do anything about anything!M. Ross, Manchester, UK
I refuse to live in a shoebox and have therefore rented a very big Victorian house instead. It costs me less than a very small "luxury" apartment. If people don't want to live in very small houses, they should turn them down. We can't expect the government to do anything, since the won't do anything about anything!M. Ross, Manchester, UK
Mr Slaughter's argument that the lack of land limits the size of living spaces in Britain is a facile argument aimed at protecting the British housing industries lack of ambition and their profit margins. Have they not heard of stairs? British housing architecture is some of the most bland and mundane in the Europe (if not the World). The market in Britain is far too controlled by corporations producing bland copies completely lacking in ambition. It seems no wonder children of today say "so what" about everything. Colin, Letchworth Garden City
Mr Slaughter's argument that the lack of land limits the size of living spaces in Britain is a facile argument aimed at protecting the British housing industries lack of ambition and their profit margins. Have they not heard of stairs? British housing architecture is some of the most bland and mundane in the Europe (if not the World). The market in Britain is far too controlled by corporations producing bland copies completely lacking in ambition. It seems no wonder children of today say "so what" about everything. Colin, Letchworth Garden City
When you're trying to concentrate all your housing into ever smaller spaces, and developers are trying to make ever increasing profits, something's got to give. Quality will always come after quantity when profit is on the list of considerations.Elaine Grant, Letchworth UK
When you're trying to concentrate all your housing into ever smaller spaces, and developers are trying to make ever increasing profits, something's got to give. Quality will always come after quantity when profit is on the list of considerations.Elaine Grant, Letchworth UK
There is a new set of flats being built in Montpelier, Bristol. The development is surrounded by a colourful fence covered in adverts and pictures about 1m high by 1.5m. Some scallywag has appropriately daubed in tiny lettering below one of the artist impressions "(Flat Shown is actual size)"Jamie Davis, Bristol
There is a new set of flats being built in Montpelier, Bristol. The development is surrounded by a colourful fence covered in adverts and pictures about 1m high by 1.5m. Some scallywag has appropriately daubed in tiny lettering below one of the artist impressions "(Flat Shown is actual size)"Jamie Davis, Bristol
