The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has shown support for self and custom-build in its latest policy document: Housing Matters: 20 Ways to Tackle the Housing crisis.
In a bid to help improve the housing market, RIBA has listed 20 key recommendations, which call for improvements such as: better use of public resources and public sector land; more locally-made decisions; a greater focus on good design and the creation of sustainable and resilient homes.
The document recommends that the Government should look for new approaches to grow the market and that local authorities should have a bigger role in facilitating innovative development models. It goes on to outline why self-build and custom-build are integral to this and that local authorities need to have sufficient resources in place to implement the duties placed upon them by the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act.
RIBA President Jane Duncan commented:
“The actions we’ve set out are achievable and realistic steps the Government can take now to tackle the housing crisis. Everyone has the right to live in a well-designed, sustainable, affordable home – we must work together to realise new solutions to make this a reality for the majority, not just the wealthy few. High quality design that offers better value for money in the long term is key.”
Duncan concluded:
“Without better spending, the homes we build now will not be built to last and are simply storing up further challenges for the future.”