Why can’t we have both affordability and style in property development?

In every corner of the UK there are developers creating properties that they each think are intelligently, considerately and beautifully designed. Great design is subjective, completely down to user taste and therefore it pays to have a variety of opinions on what ‘great property design’ really looks like. However, for individuals and families in the UK to have a good quality of life in the homes they live in, no matter the style or location of the property, it’s crucial to have a consistent set of positive design principles applied to every new development in the country writes Jonathan Twentyman, MD of JP McGuire Developments.

The new National Design Guide, which illustrates how well-designed homes can be achieved and go on to be successful in helping people get more from their properties, is – in theory – a welcome addition to help achieve this. Broken down into categories such as ‘identity’, ‘public spaces’ and ‘uses’, the guide will go some way to ensuring the one million new properties we need to solve the housing crisis are delivered to meet higher standards in design and are built to last.

However, the guide is exactly that – a guide. It isn’t a framework or regulation and is therefore still open to interpretation. And while it’s targeted at bringing together everyone within a planning system – local authority officers, councillors, applicants and their design teams and local communities – there is a distinct lack of advice on how to create well designed properties that are also affordable – something which, I feel, should be more of a priority.

When over one million people are on housing waiting lists across the UK, it’s more important than ever that developers consider how to create spaces that are equally stylish in nature, functional in layout and that also work to solve to the housing emergency we have before us.

Skyscraper developments in city centres, which shoot up in a matter of months and have price tags out of reach for many, are often considered to be the pinnacle of modern design with stripped back interiors and glass panelling from floor to ceiling. But look inside and you’re met with cramped, uninspiring, identical layouts, which lack in personality, flair or choice for the buyer. In a rush to meet the target of new properties needed in the UK, these developments – which, realistically don’t appeal to everyone – are rushed through and are creating an impression that stylish, affordable housing for all is unattainable.

But one thing we know from experience is that it is absolutely possible to create homes that are spacious, comfortable, have strong transport links, and enhance wellbeing without the need for an inflated price tag. We know it’s possible to do this, while still adhering to the National Design Guide’s advice on how to put design at the centre of your development. We know, because we’ve done it, and for anyone wondering how, the answer is to look outside of city centres.

Loom Wharf, our Grade II-listed development in Leigh – a typically ‘unfashionable’ location outside of Manchester City Centre – is made up of 99 one-, two- and three-bed apartments from which we are able to offer luxury living to those seeking affordable housing.

Compare any of the apartments to the National Design Guide and you will see how much focus we have placed on creating inclusive spaces that are have a strong emphasis on design. But for us, Loom Wharf is about more than the look and feel. It’s about developing in a local area, and sourcing materials and labour from within the community, to ensure we drive down costs to the end user without compromising on quality.

We’re also using Loom Wharf to demonstrate that investment into tired areas like Leigh can benefit developers and communities alike. By delivering high quality homes that are priced to help many people buy their first home or downsize, we can instigate new investment into these areas meaning those who do purchase get so much more from their new surroundings. By restoring existing buildings with character and heritage, an area becomes more attractive and helps others to realise the potential in an area that has long been ignored but which speaks to the needs of its local people.

It’s worth considering outer-city-centre locations and towns for developments, where land or run down buildings are cheaper to purchase, renovate and sell on. And rather than simply bringing some of the style and design from fashionable inner-city developments, why not go above and beyond? There’s more space, and more opportunities to focus on a level of design, quality and comfort that isn’t found in built-up, urban areas – something that we’ve focused on throughout the Loom Wharf project.

However, the planning process to develop outside of city centres is too slow and bureaucratic. To support this movement and make seismic changes in the way we provide future housing, legislation needs to change to make regeneration projects more efficient, so new projects can get started quicker. Local authorities, national government, entrepreneurial people and local communities must be involved at each stage in the process so areas can meet their full potential, with homes designed in line with the overarching principles in the National Design Guide while also offering affordability and a futureproofed housing market.

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