We should be far more worried about the real risk of no space standards at all than about the slim chance of a cross-tenure, three-tier standard (Letters September 13).
Given that the volume housebuilders are still not choosing to address the needs of a diverse and ageing population, a three-tier accessibility standard (with lift access at Level 2 — “new Lifetime Homes”) would be a significant step in the right direction.
Making sure that these three different types of home are big enough to work well when fully occupied would be another one. Anything less and families face either the inefficiency of having to underoccupy in order to manage, or the risk of being overcrowded.
Three-tier space sceptics should remember that the London mayor’s standards bear no resemblance to the Homes & Communities Agency’s housing quality indicators and that upwards of 100 local authorities currently have some form of
space standard.
If you really still feel that a single, national three-tier set is too complicated, just make Level 2 your baseline.
Julia Park
Head of housing research, Levitt Bernstein
Postscript
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