In a recent piece of research published by RIBA, a worrying notion has been conveyed. Despite keen developers working tirelessly to provide further housing stock in this time of shortage, it has been highlighted that over half of those homes being developed right now aren’t actually large enough to provide for those individuals purchasing them.

Perhaps due to the need for squeezing as many separate housing plots in small geographic areas, a severe minification process is being seen for new homes, with thousands of families not being able to utilise their home to live in a manner deemed comfortable and sociable – effectively, not having a great deal of social space, not having any room for relatives or an expanding family, or even having room for storing away household essentials.

In the research, RIBA highlighted that the, in the case of a new three-bedroom property, the average amount lost with modern property is about 4sqm, the same size as an average bathroom for the family. Yet, in the smallest of three-bedroom properties, it has been reported that the space missing jumps up to the size of an entire double bedroom.

Across England, Yorkshire homes are reportedly those smallest in size across England, with the average three-bedroom Yorkshire property being a shocking 25sqm smaller than one in London, whilst the average new home as a whole in Yorkshire is actually smaller by the approximate size of both a living room for the family, and an additional double bedroom.

And so, while it’s great to see developers trying to develop housing stock quickly, and even in a manner of space efficiency, the quality of such housing stock is of incredible import. As such, RIBA is presently making the case for amendments to be made to legislation to bring an end to the development of homes deemed sub-standard.