x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.
Written by rosalind renshaw

Housing minister Grant Shapps has criticised the new homes industry for its ‘identikit’ estates.

He said: “We all recognise the bog standard, identikit Legoland homes that typify some new developments.

“Too often new developments are dominated by the same identikit designs that bear no resemblance to the character of the local area.”

Shapps has written to the Design Council asking it to persuade developers to stop building boxes and produce more creative designs.

He also asked the council, which is to merge with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment on April 1, to help communities use neighbourhood plans for more sensitive developments.

Shapps said: “I want more developers to think outside these Legoland designs and consider how the expertise, knowledge and materials that are locally available could be best used to reflect the identity of their surrounding neighbourhood.

“But power also rests in the hands of the residents. Neighbourhood plans, designed and voted on by communities themselves, could offer vital support to those architects and developers who are more sensitive to the look and feel of the place in which they are building.”

But the new homes industry hit back angrily at the ‘identikit’ claims.

Home Builders Federation executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “Developers already build a range of house types and designs – homes that overwhelmingly surveys show customers are happy with.

“House builders stand ready to work with local communities to deliver the homes they need and want.”

Comments

  • icon

    I agree with the comments here, however I do think new builds could look a lot better.

    Being identical wouldn't matter if they all looked a lot more aestheically pleasing.

    • 19 March 2011 09:26 AM
  • icon

    Anonymous Coward: You beat me to exactly the same words!

    What a pity that the man who is allegedly the country's spokesperson for the future of the hoousing industry understands so little.

    Those who believe that new build prices are high should be THANKFUL that the developer keeps to a few chosen homestyles. The cost of designing new ones from scratch and inplementing them wholesale would skyrocket costs. They are where they are BECAUSE the developer keeps costs down to a minimum, by building more of the same...

    • 18 March 2011 14:59 PM
  • icon

    And all those Victorian terraces that people in London fall over themselves to buy is what then...

    Inspired, individually architect crafted unique one off homes?

    New build is new build - wherever in the world you are, unless you go and buy a single plot newbuild...

    • 18 March 2011 14:47 PM
MovePal MovePal MovePal