Statutory guidance

Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard

This document sets out the government’s new nationally described space standard.

• From: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021) and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Published: 27 March 2015

Applies to England

Documents

Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard

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Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard

Ref: ISBN 978-1-4098-4567-6

PDF, 303 KB, 5 pages

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Details

The nationally described space standard will replace the existing different space standards used by local authorities. It is not a building regulation and remains solely within the planning system as a new form of technical planning standard.

The standard is one part of a wider housing standards review package which the government announced on 27 March 2015.

This document has been amended on the 19 May 2016. Under table 1 the following notes have been added:

1. Built-in storage areas are included within the overall GIAs and include an allowance of 0.5m² for fixed services or equipment such as a hot water cylinder, boiler or heat exchanger.
2. GIAs for one storey dwellings include enough space for 1 bathroom and 1 additional WC (or shower room) in dwellings with 5 or more bed spaces. GIAs for 2 and 3 storey dwellings include enough space for 1 bathroom and 1 additional WC (or shower room). Additional sanitary facilities may be included without increasing the GIA provided that all aspects of the space standard have been met.
3. Where a 1 bedroom 1 person (1b1p) dwelling has a shower room instead of a bathroom, the floor area may be reduced from 39m² to 37m², as shown bracketed.
4. Furnished layouts are not required to demonstrate compliance.

Published 27 March 2015