The national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods.
02. Is there an accommodation mix that reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community?
PPS3 (housing): ‘Developers should… reflect demand and the profile of households requiring market housing, in order to sustain mixed communities. Proposals for affordable housing should reflect the size and type of affordable housing required.’
Neighbourhoods are more successful when they avoid large concentrations of housing of the same type. A good mix of housing types and sizes is important in creating a basis for a balanced community. Even comparatively small developments can have a wide mix of types of property. Also, a mix of housing types and uses can create more attractive residential environments with greater diversity in building forms and scales.
A mix of accommodation provides opportunities for communities where people can move home without leaving a neighbourhood. A well-designed neighbourhood will provide accommodation that meets the needs of single person households, small and large families as well as offering live-work possibilities.
However, the mix needs to be designed and managed carefully. Layouts should aim to reduce possible tensions between families, older people and students for example by considering the different activities of these groups and maintaining privacy between them.
‘Since 1971, the average size of household has declined from 2.91 persons to 2.31, while one-person households have grown from 17 per cent to 31 per cent.’
Office for National Statistics, 2004
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