Dwelling standards

We monitored the situation throughout 2010 and made about a dozen representations on individual planning applications pointing out the inadequacy of flats proposed. In only a few cases were applications refused because of small dwelling sizes.

The small dwellings being built have long been a problem both locally and nationally: Britain produces some of the smallest dwellings in Europe. Such dwellings have often very limited space for kitchens, no space for dining tables, very restricted storage space, all of which adds to a most unsatisfactory living environment. In our opinion such ‘Hobbit homes’ might well help create the slums of the future. We believe there should be one standard for housing in Brighton & Hove and that the one currently used for affordable homes would be adequate.

We made comments accordingly at the City Plan stage and managed to agree modifications to the City Plan, that dwelling standards (which now will be the national standards, if implemented) will be included in Part II of the City Plan. This has now been incorporated into the draft City Plan Part II, which we assume will be adopted some time in 2020.