


The National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to have a clear understanding of housing needs in their area, including those for people with specific housing needs. Revision date: 27 03 2015 How should local planning authorities assess the need for accessibility requirements? See related policy: Promoting healthy communities Local planning authorities should take account of evidence that demonstrates a clear need for housing for people with specific housing needs and plan to meet this need. This includes buildings and their surrounding spaces. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that local planning authorities should plan to create safe, accessible environments and promote inclusion and community cohesion. Revision date: 27 03 2015 Accessibility and wheelchair housing standards Can local planning authorities require accessibility, adaptability and wheelchair standards in new dwellings? Revision date: 27 03 2015 Where can I find out more about the standards?įurther information on the access standard and water efficiency standard are in the Approved Documents.įurther information on the nationally described space standard is available from GOV.UK. In considering the costs relating to optional Building Regulation requirements or the nationally described space standard, authorities may wish to take account of the evidence in the most recent Impact Assessment issued alongside the Housing Standards Review. Local planning authorities should consider the impact of using these standards as part of their Local Plan viability assessment. Revision date: 19 05 2016 See previous version How should local planning authorities assess viability concerns for setting optional Building Regulation requirements and the nationally described space standard? Mandatory Building Regulations covering the physical security of new dwellings came into force on 1 October 2015 and planning authorities should no longer seek to impose any additional requirements for security of individual dwellings through plan policies, though designing for security of site layout remains a valid planning consideration. Local planning authorities will need to gather evidence to determine whether there is a need for additional standards in their area, and justify setting appropriate policies in their Local Plans. Local planning authorities have the option to set additional technical requirements exceeding the minimum standards required by Building Regulations in respect of access and water, and an optional nationally described space standard. Revision date: 27 03 2015 What optional technical housing standards can local planning authorities set?
Wheelchair accessible apartments code#
The government set out its policy on the application of these standards in decision taking and plan making in a written ministerial statement, which also withdraws the Code for Sustainable Homes aside from legacy cases. This rationalises the many differing existing standards into a simpler, streamlined system which will reduce burdens and help bring forward much needed new homes. The government has created a new approach for the setting of technical standards for new housing. Introduction What are the new optional technical housing standards? If you’d like an email alert when changes are made to planning guidance please subscribe. Where plans are being prepared under the transitional arrangements set out in Annex 1 to the revised National Planning Policy Framework, the policies in the previous version of the framework published in 2012 will continue to apply, as will any previous guidance which has been superseded since the new framework was published in July 2018.
