The Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments; Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2018) set the minimum design standards for both private and social apartments developments.
The Guidelines also make provision for ‘Build-To-Rent’ (BTR) development to provide greater choice and flexibility in the overall housing mix. The Guidelines define ‘Build-To-Rent’ as “Purpose-built residential accommodation and associated amenities built specifically for long-term rental that is managed and serviced in an institutional manner by an institutional landlord.” The Guidelines as drafted, envisage BTR as a commercial undertaking, to which Part V provisions apply to BTR in terms of social housing provision.
Accordingly, the Guidelines clearly set out the six types of Part V agreement that may be made. Given the particular circumstances of BTR, the Guidelines recommend that BTR project promoters engage closely with the relevant planning authority with regard to how best to discharge the Part V agreement, prior to lodging any planning application.
While the Apartment Guidelines allow for some limited design flexibility in BTR developments, both the minimum apartment size standard and dual aspect ratio are identical to those set out as a requirements for other apartment developments, both private and social. In addition, while the application of design flexibility is not mandatory, BTR development must, in accordance with a Specific Planning Policy Requirement (SPPR 7), include proposals for both:
- "Resident Support Facilities", identified as facilities relating to the operation of the development for residents, including laundry, concierge and management facilities, maintenance/repair services and waste management; and
- "Resident Services and Amenities", identified as facilities for communal recreational and other activities by residents, including sports facilities, shared TV/lounge areas, work/study spaces, function rooms for private dining.
The more flexible BTR standards are not applicable to social housing delivery more generally i.e. to non-BTR development.
The following table compares social housing apartment standards as set out in Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments; Guidelines for Planning Authorities and Build to Rent standards as also set out in the guidelines.
Table 1: Comparison between Social Housing Apartment Standards and Build to Rent Standards
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Design consideration
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Non-BTR Apartment Standards (Private and Social)
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Build to Rent Apartment Standards
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Space Standard
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Studio Minimum
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37 sqm
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37sqm
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|
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1B/2P Minimum
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45 sqm
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45 sqm
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|
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2B/3P Minimum
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63 sqm
(Max 10% of units)
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63 sqm
(Max 10% of units)
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|
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2B/4P Minimum
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75 sqm
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75 sqm
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|
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3B/5P Minimum
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90 sqm
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90 sqm
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|
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Majority of units 10%> than minimum
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Majority of units 10%> than minimum
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Not applicable
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Storage
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Studio Minimum
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3 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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1B/2P Minimum
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3 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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2B/3P Minimum
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5 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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2B/4P Minimum
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6 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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3B/5P Minimum
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9 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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Amenity/Private open Space
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Studio Minimum
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4 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion* (Specific design requirements for Ground floor)
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|
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1B/2P Minimum
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5 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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2B/3P Minimum
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6 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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2B/4P Minimum
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7 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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|
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3B/5P Minimum
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9 sqm
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Flexibility to a proportion*
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Communal Amenity Open Space
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Same minimum area as private open space Play space for children required
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Flexibility*
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Communal Facilities
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May be provided but not imposed
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Resident Support Facilities &
Resident Services and Amenities
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Mix
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Up to 50% One Bed/Studios, No minimum 3 bed
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No restriction
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% of Dual Aspect
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33% Urban
50% Greenfield
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33% Urban
50% Greenfield
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Apartments/Core
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12
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Maximum shall not apply
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Car Parking
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Urban – minimised or eliminated
Peripheral – 1/apartment + 1/3-4
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Default of minimal or significantly reduced car parking provision
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*Subject to the provision of alternative, compensatory communal support facilities and amenities within the development.
