1. Fulfilling Homes
Hounslow’s population is growing (14% between 2011 and 2021) and the Borough has a diverse community with particular housing needs. As elsewhere in London, access to decent affordable housing is a challenge for many people; The Council is tackling this through house-building programmes and significant investment in Council and Social Rent homes.
To make the most of this investment, our homes should be robust and durable, providing long-term value and affordability, whilst also achieving an appropriate amount of adaptability to respond positively to evolving needs as individuals and families grow, change and age. They should be accessible, safe and secure, providing relaxing, uplifting spaces, indoor and out, where we can feel at home.
Our homes should be comfortable in the long-term and designed appropriately to support our everyday existence, diverse ways of life and family structures. They should instil a sense of pride and ownership regardless of tenure, contributing to places that feel loved and cared for.
1.1. A sense of pride and ownership
1.1.1. Have the needs of different user groups been considered and
accommodated when designing the organisation of the home, e.g. multi-generational homes?
1.1.2. Have relationships between homes been designed to support good ‘eyes on the street’ to foster a sense of interconnectivity and community among residents?
1.1.3. Are there opportunities for residents to take ownership
and express themselves through decoration and embellishment, including through specific clauses in tenancy agreements?
1.1.4. Does the development provide welcoming, hard-wearing shared spaces for daily interactions
with neighbours, e.g. generous proportions, natural light, a visual connection to the public realm?
1.1.5. Have opportunities been taken
to deliver delight and generosity within the home, e.g. deep and well detailed communal and private entrances with easy access to storage?
1.1.6. Has sufficient thought and care been given to the external design of new homes, so that they have a sense of character that is likely to remain desirable and well-loved in the long term?
1.2. Comfort and adaptability
1.2.1. Have opportunities been taken to maximise natural daylight & outlook, whilst managing overheating and residents' privacy?
1.2.2. Does the home provide a safe, secure and relaxing environment for an appropriate range of users?
1.2.3. Does the design of the home create comfortable internal environments that avoid disturbance from factors such as overheating and noise?
1.2.4. Has a sufficient amount and quality of storage been provided to accommodate the needs of different residents and changing requirements over time?
1.2.5.Have the rooms and spaces been designed to allow for multiple furniture arrangements and uses to suit different ways of living within the home, e.g to support homeworking?
1.2.6.Does the design of homes support changing needs of residents, e.g. due to disability or injury, changing family structures or life-stages?
1.3. Generous accessibility
1.3.1. Does the layout make it easy to reach front doors and entrances?
1.3.2. Are entrances and associated wayfinding visible and clearly identifiable from the street?
1.3.3. Is there a robust fire evacuation strategy in place that includes appropriate escape routes, travel distances and refuge points?
1.3.4. Does the design of the homes enable adaptations so that
residents can continue to live in their home, or within their community, throughout various life-stages?
1.4. Useful private outdoor space
1.4.1. Is the private outdoor space appropriately sized in relation to the dwelling?
1.4.2. Is the private outdoor space well- orientated to maximise outlook, sunlight and acoustic constraints?
1.4.3. Are boundaries to amenity spaces attractive, safe and durable, whilst providing a balance between openness and privacy?
1.4.4. Does the private outdoor space enhance internal space e.g. by providing additional circulation routes or by enabling overspill from living spaces?
1.4.5. Is the private outdoor space sufficiently flexible to suit a variety of uses and needs e.g. socialising, gardening, food-growing?
1.5. Affordability and long-term value
1.5.1. Has the development been designed to minimise living costs?
1.5.2. Have clear written targets been established for the design-life of key building elements?
1.5.3. Have the materials, detailing and construction of the scheme been developed to be robust, easy to maintain, replace and adapt for long-term use?
1.5.4. Has a maintenance and management plan been established that ensures that homes are maintained as a quality place to live in the long-term?
1.5.5. Have efficient and future-proof data connections been provided to all homes to support residents requirements e.g home working?
