A consultation on future core housing design and sustainability standards has been published by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The consultation aims to stimulate a debate on how we should prioritise the quality of new housing in a challenging financial climate. Core standards are aimed at setting testing but clear goals through a new and transparent process that intends to reduce bureaucracy. As well as quality, the viability of schemes, delivery of housing and impact on the housebuilding industry will be key considerations.

The consultation seeks views on a series of options for how the national housing and regeneration agency might design and phase in new standards and apply them to its programme. Partners and other interested parties are asked to comment on the proposals and help shape further development of the HCA’s core design and sustainability standards.

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Currently, the HCA uses inherited standards from its two predecessor bodies - English Partnerships standards for its property and regeneration programmes and the Housing Corporation standards for the National Affordable Housing Programme. The intention is to create one clear set of HCA core standards that can be used across the whole of its programme from April 2011.

Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the HCA, said: "We must ensure that every investment we make is lasting, which means creating quality homes and places that will stand the test of time. Our approach to developing a new set of standards has been to use the tried and tested tools that already exist to help us meet our statutory duty to improve the supply and quality of housing in England. There is a wealth of experience and best practice to draw upon and we have pulled it together into a single place to support our consultation.

"We are looking to the sector to give us feedback on our proposals through this consultation, to help us continue to deliver homes and communities that are great places where people enjoy living, working and socialising."

(CD/GK)