Shapps calls in Sir Terence Conran to get locals ‘onside’ of new homes

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Local Government

The housing minister Grant Shapps is linking up with British designer Sir Terence Conran to develop a new competition that will give communities a chance to design their own neighbourhoods.

The competition is part of a wider Government ambition to encourage communities to accept new homes. Ministers believe that if house builders can involve local people in the design of new homes from an early stage, they’ll be more receptive to it.

It has already taken strides to engage communities in new homes through measures like neighbourhood plans and the new Community Right to Build.

Mr Shapps said new homes can't be achieved without getting local people “onside” and turning NIMBYs into YIMBYs (Yes in My Back Yard).  

He wants to tackle the “mistaken belief” that new build properties are potential “homes from hell”.

The competition will be launched at a forthcoming summit this Autumn with communities invited to submit their designs for Sir Terence - who founded the Habitat chain of home furnishings stores - and other design industry stalwarts to judge.

Shapps said the competition will “harness the creativity of communities” up and down the country as they consider how they want their local areas to look.

He said: “But this is part of a wider point about the need to build more homes, which can’t happen without getting local people onside and turning NIMBYs into YIMBYs (Yes in My Back Yard).  To do this, residents must be involved in the design of new developments from the outset – helping to build the homes communities want and need and meeting demand from local buyers.

“And by doing this, housebuilders can finally tackle the belief that new-builds are potential ‘homes from hell’, proving the pessimists wrong and clearly demonstrating how well-designed and built their properties really are.”

Mr Conran (pictured) said: "The design of an area has a significant and lasting impact on the quality of life of its residents - it's therefore vital that local people have a say over how their communities look and feel.

"I want the competition to inspire communities up and down the country to really think about the places in which they want to live, what they want to see and how they can make a difference. I look forward to launching it later this year, and seeing how creative Britain can be."