Government to promote good office design

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 21-07-2006

Good building and office design has been put high on the agenda by the government.

Communities and local government secretary Ruth Kelly has stated that she wants to "raise the bar on design standards".

At the Housing Design Awards yesterday (July 21st), she said: "Quality design is fundamental.

"Design and Access Statements and our Design for Manufacture competition show that the government is raising the bar.

"We also want developers to push standards further so that local authorities can insist on, and say 'yes' to, better buildings."

Design and Access Statements come in to force next month and will affect all but very minor planning applications for homes and offices.

It is hoped the statements will raise the profile of design and access issues and give local authorities more powers to insist on better design.