Pennycook issues statement on housing design and quality

The Office for Place will close and the government will update the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code in the spring, according to housing minister Matthew Pennycook.

Issuing a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) on his department’s approach to housing design and quality, Pennycook wrote that the government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million new homes over the next five years “cannot mean units at any cost”. He stressed – as previously stated – that “exemplary development” should be “the norm, not the exception”.

In taking steps to improve the design and quality of homes and neighbourhoods being delivered, the housing minister said the previous government’s National Design Guide and National Model Design Code would be updated in spring next year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would also, Pennycook wrote, continue to strengthen design skills and capacity through the department’s £46 million package for local planning authorities.

As announced in the Budget, this is set to fund the recruitment and training of 300 graduate and apprentice planners. This is alongside £1 million funding to Public Practice for the recruitment of planners, architects and urban designers.

MHCLG is also set to wind down the …