One of the most important topics in the UK at the moment is housing, particularly how to deliver more homes that people can afford. The Architects’ Action for Affordable Housing group is calling for the Government to do more to deliver it. We want to have a look at their manifesto and what they want to see. It could have a big impact on residential architecture in London and other parts of the UK.

Political spotlight

The main aim of the campaign is to make affordable housing a political battle line before the General Election in July. The collective believes that boosting the supply of homes would offer massive economic benefits. It would therefore match the agenda to ensure growth and prosperity.

A massive idea here is to give the Housing Minister more power, promoting them to Cabinet. It would ensure more consistency for the delivery of affordable housing. The current situation is not conducive to this because of the revolving door of politicians, particularly in the last few years with numerous reshuffles.

Other proposals

The manifesto also has a number of other ideas about affordable housing. For one, they want the Government to agree to a 20 year plan. This would ensure a fair and equitable supply of homes where they are most necessary in the UK.

Secondly, is a call for council planning departments to get better resources. There is a lot of uncertainty about new developments in many areas because of issues with planning laws, red tape, and other barriers. It is particularly problematic for residential architecture in London, with over 6,000 homes currently stuck at various stages of construction. More resources for councils would help make the process more efficient and support developers.

Another crucial area is the environment. The manifesto would like to see all social housing having to meet RIBA’s 2030 carbon targets. They work to reduce embodied carbon and operational energy consumption. If all new council housing was built with these standards in mind, it would go a long way to achieving Net Zero goals.

Finally, there is a call for a retrofit first policy. In many cases buildings are demolished to make room for new developments. However, architects would like to see more support for saving what we already have. In many cases good designs would create fantastic new homes and other amenities without the environmental impact of demolition.

Final words

Architects’ Action for Affordable Housing has a strong belief that the Government needs to do more to fix housing inequalities. They want them to make it a priority. After-all, access to a safe and secure home has a massive impact on people and communities. It can ensure better physical and mental health, improve employment prospects, and boost quality of life.

Do you need help with residential architecture in London?

Coffey Architects is a team with a lot of experience when it comes to homes and housing. We have several projects in our portfolio, including social housing. Our goal every time is to ensure the designs maximise the wellbeing of inhabitants. On larger schemes, we also ensure we take a look at the impact on the area and community.

So, if you want some support with residential architecture in London, including how to navigate the tricky planning process, speak to us. We’d love to work with you.