New Housing Developments Get New Guidelines

New healthy homes design guidance for England has just been published. This comes at a crucial time, especially considering our discussion yesterday about making town centres more attractive places to live and work.

Introducing ‘Building for a Healthy Life’

The new guidelines, Building for a Healthy Life, are backed by the NHS and aim to promote healthier lifestyles within new housing developments. Officially launched this week, this design toolkit highlights priorities such as:

• Improved walking, cycling, and public transport links
• Reduced carbon emissions and better air quality
• Integrated neighbourhoods, rather than isolated clusters of new homes or affordable housing

A Framework for Healthier Communities

The guidelines emphasize that masterplans for new developments should be based on local health and care needs. The focus is on creating vibrant, well-defined public spaces that encourage community interaction rather than disconnected housing estates.

How the New Guidelines Build on Existing Standards

Building for a Healthy Life follows the same 12-point structure as Building for Life 12, the design guidance in place since 2012. It provides:

• Examples of good practice (earning a ‘green light’ from planners)
• Examples of poor design (receiving a ‘red light’)
  Unlike a simple tick-box system, the new framework is intended to encourage discussion and better planning.

Addressing the Problem of Poorly Designed Housing

Too many new-build developments across the country lack character, with cookie-cutter homes, inadequate public spaces, and poor transport links. These shortcomings have been widely recognized, and the new guidance aims to improve design standards by focusing on:

• Placemaking and well-defined streets
• Encouraging active lifestyles through better walking and cycling infrastructure

Will These Guidelines Transform Future Housing?

While the new guidance is a step in the right direction, its real success will be measured in the years to come. Will we see better-designed, healthier communities or will poorly planned developments continue to dominate our towns and cities? Only time will tell—but we’re hopeful.