East Homes / The High Density Housing Toolkit

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Delivering Successful Higher Density Housing

1. Neighbourhood, amenity and location

This section is concerned with the location of a scheme and the amenities and other infrastructure available in the neighbourhood. Public transport, schools, shops and surgeries for example, all contribute to the attractiveness and sustainability of the scheme. Consideration needs to be given to the distance and quality of such amenities.

Downloadable resources

Check list
LSE, Density and Urban Neighbourhoods in London (2005)
ODPM Housing quality indicators part 1
Capital Gains – making high density housing work in London – summary (2002) Full report available from National Housing Federation @ http://www.housing.org.uk/
Business planning for neighbourhoods (National Housing Federation 2004)

Online toolkit - read instructions

1. Neighbourhood, amenity and location
Checklist	Comments, concerns & suggestions	P	O	N
1.1 Overview
Higher density need not mean high-rise – is the built form suitable for the client group and area?
Is the density suitable for the proposed client group?
If there is a master plan for the area and does this scheme conform to it?
Have education, health, social services and others been involved in planning services for the increased population?
1.2 Location and environment
Is the scheme located in an existing residential area?
If not what plans are there to ensure that infrastructure is in place by the time homes are sold/let?
Wherever the scheme is located does it score 75 + against Housing Quality Indicators for amenity and location?
Has the scheme been assessed against the Housing Corporation’s sustainability toolkit and if so what does that indicate about the long-term sustainability of the area and the scheme?
1.3. Proximity of amenities
Local shops
Main centre shopping including public transport to it
Supermarket shopping including public transport to it
Leisure facilities
Sports facilities
Parks
Doctors’ surgery
Primary school
1.4 Public transport How close are the nearest public transport links?
Trains
Trams
Tubes
Buses
In London, has a Public Transport Accessibility Rating exercise been undertaken? (PTAL score should be between 4-6)
1.5 Noise
What are the sources of noise (industry, traffic, rail lines) and how have these been addressed?
1.6 Community facilities
Given the amenity and location of the scheme what plans (if any) are proposed for the provision of additional community facilities for the exclusive use of residents or the wider community?

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