NHF: Federation updates hugely popular building guide

The National Housing Federation has published a brand new version of its enormously popular guide to developing affordable homes, Standards and Quality in Development - a good practice guide.

The original publication, which first came out in 1998, is one of the most valued resources the Federation has ever produced. It has now been substantially updated to take in the very latest developments in housebuilding.

Standards and Quality in Development contains advice and best practice guidance on every aspect of delivering affordable homes, from drawing up the design brief to making use of feedback on completed developments.

The new version, endorsed by both CABE and the Royal Institute of British Architects, will help housing associations to continue to meet high standards of design and environmental sustainability - and show other builders how to follow their lead.

It includes advice on achieving Levels 3 and 4 of the new Code for Sustainable Homes, which housing associations are required to reach two years ahead of private developers.

The updated guide was launched this week at the Federation's Development and Regeneration conference at the University of Warwick.

David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said, "Housing associations continue to build homes that have the highest possible design and quality. We are delivering time and again on environmentally efficient homes that are attractive, spacious, well planned and maintained places to live, where residents can be justly proud.

"However, we are not complacent. We recognise that we have a role to play in continuing to raise benchmarks not simply amongst the affordable housing sector but across the whole housebuilding industry. We hope that the recommended standards in this edition will become the future minimum levels in developing new homes rather than the aspirational."

Standards and Quality in Development - a good practice guide is available to buy from the Federation's website at https://www.housing.org.uk/onlinestore.


For further information contact:

Joe Dumont, 020 7067 1028 / 07990 638946, josephd@housing.org.uk
Paul Rees, 020 7067 1026 / 07974 826587, paulrees@housing.org.uk

Notes to editors

The National Housing Federation represents 1300 independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England. Together, our members provide 2 million affordable homes for around 5 million people. www.housing.org.uk