A report promoting better design to raise the quality of Scotland's future built environment was today unveiled by Culture Minister Linda Fabiani.
Addressing an architectural and building seminar in Edinburgh, Fabiani launched the report, Design At The Heart Of House Building, which is intended as an starting point for architects, developers and local authorities to work together to deliver higher quality, design-led, sustainable housing and communities.
She said: “The Scottish Government sees the creation of better-designed, sustainable communities as one of its key ambitions and the private house-building industry has an important role to play in achieving that goal.
“This research study provides a step forward in our understanding of the house-building industry - in terms of its approach to design, the complexities of the issues it faces and where external advice and support might be beneficial to achieving our joint ambitions.
“The report provides an excellent starting point for all interested parties to work together to better understand how we can deliver higher quality, design-led, sustainable housing.”
Fabiani added that the Scottish Government is striving to be more 'user friendly' to developers and others involved in the building process, citing the recent move to bring architecture policy, building standards and planning together in a new Directorate for the Built Environment.
The report's conclusions and recommendations show how there needs to be a wider understanding of the process of private sector housing development, noting how design quality has become a more important component in the development process.
It also highlights the increased importance of using well-qualified designers who understand the development process, while urging local authorities, landowners, developers and other interested parties to be more proactive in ensuring design quality is high on the agenda in each considered development.
Other recommendations point to how government and local authorities can help private house-builders raise design quality by providing research support for the housing sector on issues such as sustainable design and by ensuring the planning process play its part, via adequately staffed and skilled local authority planning departments.
Sebastian Tombs, the chief executive of Architecture and Design Scotland added: “We welcome this commissioned research report, providing new evidence to inform our work. The report usefully explores the various levels of design skills, technological innovation and partnership needed to make not just well-designed and durable individual homes, but sustainable places.”
Allan Lundmark, director of planning at Homes for Scotland, the umbrella organisation for private house builders, said: “The home building industry commends the research team on this rigorous research which acknowledges that the homebuilding industry is not homogeneous but made up of large and small businesses which operate across different geographical and market sectors.
“There are complex forces at work that influence design in house building, not least of all the problems associated with the chronic undersupply of land. Set against this backdrop, this research has expertly set the parameters for a conversation about design and has highlighted the obstacles that are currently in our way. We are encouraged that government is prepared to work with the industry, regulators and developers to drive forward the 'Place-making' agenda. The industry is committed to building the new sustainable communities of tomorrow - in that sense design is at the heart of what we do.”
For a full copy of the Design At The Heart Of House Building research publication click here.
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