The design quality of homes built by “greedy” volume housebuilders are overwhelmingly poor or mediocre, according to a national housing audit conducted by the Bartlett.

The report, co-funded by UCL’s Place Alliance and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), found that three-quarters of new homes constructed by large builders are of mediocre or poor design quality, with one in five so bad they should never have been given planning permission.

Principle report author Matthew Carmona, professor of planning and urban design at the Bartlett School of Planning, said the research showed major housebuilders were failing to act ethically, and were putting profit before all other considerations.

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