bdonline 30 October 2013 | By Mark Wilding

Institute also renews call for mandatory space standards for new homes

The RIBA has called for the Code for Sustainable Homes to be scrapped and for energy requirements to be enforced through building regulations.

Responding to a government consultation on housing standards, the RIBA said the code has created an unnecessary burden for designers and developers.

While the RIBA said some elements of the code should be dealt with through the planning system, it believes that enforcing energy requirements through building regulations would make life easier for architects and allow councils to concentrate on strategic planning.

The institute also reiterated its call for mandatory minimum space standards to be introduced for new homes and advised the government to explore the introduction of daylight standards.

This would include regulation of window sizes and a presumption against planning permission for north facing single aspect homes.

The RIBA also called for planning guidance should be developed on issues including cycle storage and neighbourhood security.