In this chapter

• Introduction to development management policy
• Housing
  • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing
  • Policy H/RS: Affordable housing regeneration schemes
  • Policy H/RES: Rural exception sites
  • Policy H/EC: Affordable housing requirements within older person and specialist housing (including Extra Care)
  • Policy H/SH: Specialist housing and homes for older people design
  • Policy H/AS: Accessible homes and residential space standards
    • Policy H/AS: Residential space standards for affordable housing
    • Policy H/AS: Residential space standards in market housing
  • Policy H/HM: Housing mix
  • Policy H/BtR: Build to rent developments
  • Policy H/CL: Co-living schemes
  • Policy H/PBSA: Purpose built student accommodation
  • Policy H/SBCHB: Self-build and custom housebuilding
  • Policy H/GT: Gypsies, travellers and travelling show people
  • Policy H/M: Moorings
• Climate change
• Nature and ecosystem services
• Green Belt
• Jobs and economy
• Healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities
• Heritage and design
• Sustainable transport
• Pollution, contamination and safety
• Minerals and waste
• Waste
• Infrastructure

Policy H/AS: Residential space standards in market housing

About this page

How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works

These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:

Policy background

• Relevant national policy or regulations
• National or regional trends
• Local situation and needs/li>
• How we have dealt with this issue in the past
• The thinking behind the policy

Policy options for the new Local Plan

We may suggest a variety of approaches:

• Keeping existing policy as it is
• Making small changes
• Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
• Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future

Policy option analysis

• A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.

Explore the policy

Select a section below to read more.

Policy background

Residential Space Standards in Market Housing

9.66 We do not currently have a requirement for NDSS within market housing in our adopted Local Plan, although within B&NES anecdotal evidence suggests that generally developments are brought forward using these space standards.

9.67 Given the health and wellbeing benefits for residents of NDSS and viable delivery, we are proposing to test options around the requirement for NDSS within market housing, including Build to Rent schemes.

9.68 We also need to consider our approach to space standards in terms of delivering high quality innovative approaches to alternative forms of housing such as micro-housing and co-living to meet the needs of some of our communities, considering how we would ensure how high amenity levels can be reached without NDSS (see separate section on co-living below).

9.69 Options as relates to NDSS in market housing are as follows:

Policy options for the new Local Plan

Option A

Do not take forward NDSS requirements within policy as relates to market housing.

Advantages of Option A

Developments are not required to take forward NDSS within market housing.

Disadvantages of Option A

Developments may not provide minimum dimensions and design criteria which would be detrimental to residential amenity/quality of life.

Option B

Take forward the requirement for NDSS within market housing within the Local Plan in line with the evidence base.

Note: NDSS requirement would not apply to specific types of residential accommodation e.g. co-living, as set out later in this chapter.

Advantages of Option B

NDSS include minimum dimensions and design criteria to make homes comfortable, safe and adaptable to allow people to carry on everyday activities at ease.

Disadvantages of Option B

Viability considerations.