Upgrading Secretary Michael Gove has backed proposals for new housing developments to receive Ofsted-style quality ratings.
The idea, put forward by the Policy Exchange think tank, would see proposed developments assessed against a “placemaking matrix” to determine their psychological as well as physical and socio-economic value.
Schemes would be rated as outstanding, good, average or poor under the matrix, with a numerical score forming one of the factors to be considered as part of the planning process, as well as a basis for public engagement with the local community.
Architect Ike Ijeh, who is behind the idea, said: “While any scoring system becomes immediately and inevitably competitive, scores exist not primarily to praise or punish good or bad developments, but to promote a interrogation and a closer understanding of how they are good and bad. can be achieved.”
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating system provides a positive precedent for the introduction of this tool, he added.
In a prologue to the Better Places: A matrix for measuring and delivering the quality of placemaking paper, Gove calls the proposal “brilliant” and “an indispensable resource”.
He says: “A universal tool that can be used to score a range of elements seen in new and existing developments can help build confidence in the wider social value of new residential schemes during the planning process and therefore unlock much needed new housing supply.
“If we can move beyond the shoddy developments that still blight too much of our urban environment, we can increase public confidence in both our planning system and place design standards.
“For too long, quality has been seen by many as an impediment to planning […but] the site creation matrix could help transform it into an incentive.”
The Federation of House Builders said the plan could be a welcome tool to tackle delays in the planning system.
“Customer feedback confirms that the industry delivers consistently high-quality, well-designed schemes and while there are already a number of measures in place to cover these areas, anything to speed up planning decisions would be welcome,” he said a spokesperson
“Delays in the planning process are a significant barrier to housing delivery and we urge ministers to focus on finding solutions to these constraints rather than promoting pet projects.”
However, others expressed doubts about the program’s ability to provide a relevant and meaningful assessment of residential developments.
A housing worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “While it may be indulgent for certain audiences to classify developments on whether they incorporate squares, fountains and hanging baskets or provide lighting Christmas and free Wi-Fi and ring out to the sound of church bells, Clearly these are not suitable for all developments and are not necessarily what residents aspire to in the midst of a housing crisis.”
The paper includes three case studies to illustrate the application of the matrix, with Cambridge’s Accordia development “an accomplished example of the power of architecture and the public realm to create a strong and distinctive sense of place” – rated as “exceptional”.
However, the £9 billion redevelopment of the Nine Elms area in south-west London is rated “poor” due to its “bland high-rise architecture”, “lack of visual unity” and the prevalence of luxury developments with absentee occupants.
“Any redemptive opportunity for residents to nurture a palpable sense of community is missed,” the assessment concludes.
