Legal News

Southwark Council in south London has launched its own design guide in its bid to create 11,000 new council homes over the next 30 years.

Southwark Design Guide is essentially a client brief for design consultants and contractors, based around 15 design values the council wants for its new council homes.

It is estimated that London as a whole will need 250,00 new homes to be built every year to keep pace with the demands of an ever-growing population.

Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for regeneration and new homes, Councillor Mark Williams, said:

“In Southwark, we are tackling the housing crisis head on and have the largest council home building programme in the country.

“It is vital that these new homes are of the highest possible quality – and are genuinely tenure blind, so you won’t be able to tell them apart from private homes.

“We will build homes that are energy efficient, have generous amounts of space, and that our residents can be proud of.”

The council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for design excellence, Cllr Leo Pollack, added:

“Some new housing today comes across to many as boxy, poorly composed and visibly value-engineered.

“The council's New Homes Design Guide will ensure that we buck this trend, specifying the most generous standards on space, light, sound-proofing and energy efficiency – as well as taking our commitment to tenure blind housing beyond avoiding 'poor doors' to cover internal circulation and communal area.

“The Southwark Design Guide will give a strong inducement to architects and contractors building council homes in Southwark to produce career-best work for our residents – and our hope is that it will help kick-start a new race to the top in housing design among other house-builders.”

The Southwark Design Guide was approved at the council’s cabinet meeting in November.

At the same meeting, the council discussed the results of a major consultation with 2,500 local residents about where and how new homes should be built.

The council said that, although a variety of opinions were offered, the results of the meeting and consultation reveal both a recognised need for more council homes – and a desire to see top quality homes built in Southwark.
Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors
Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise rental tenants in the private sector and public sector on a wide range of housing matters, including disrepair and landlord’s duty to repair, as well as tenancy agreements – and landlord and tenant disputes.

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• Antisocial behaviour
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For expert legal advice on private rental housing matters, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.