Object

Representation ID: 4990

Received: 20/12/2022

Respondent: Barratt West Midlands

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The policy requires all new dwellings to meet Nationally Described Space Standards. Where a need for internal space standards is identified, the PPG (Reference ID: 56-020-20150327) requires Councils to take account of the need for the standards, the potential impact on viability and the timing of introducing the standards. We objected to this policy in our Preferred Options representations as no evidence was provided to justify these standards. SSDC has now produced an Internal Space Standards Topic Paper (November 2022). We have no further comments on this requirement within the policy.
The policy also proposes very specific garden area and distance requirements. Although private amenity space and distances between dwellings are not addressed within the internal space standards guidance, there is a national requirement to make the most effective use of land (NPPF Chapter 11). We consider that the Council should have to justify the requirement for these specific standards and the potential impact of this policy on proposed housing yields.