Superdensity is the consequence of the successful compact city. The challenge is to design the housing appropriately so that it is has long-term appeal.

PRP architects collaborated with others (HTA, Levitt Bernstein and PTE) to achieve a consensus on the factors for success for residential development above the historic benchmark of 150 dwellings per hectare. The report, Recommendations for Living at Superdensity, is one of the most important reports to be produced. It provides guidance for planning committees, officers and others involved in evaluating schemes for judging the success of new housing development in the long term, and as guidance to the Greater London Authority as they draft their Housing Strategy document. Superdensity is free from Design for Homes at the Building Centre (tel 0870 416 3378) or visit www.designforhomes.org). The authors have pooled knowledge to assess how this threshold is being crossed with new high density schemes that they have all rarely encountered in 120 years of collective experience. The pressure to deliver new housing in London, some 800, 000 by 2016, is pushing new commissions to be designed at densities from 150 to 1000 homes per hectare, at least a third higher than what London has traditionally witnessed. The report suggests that these schemes require a more rigorous approach to procurement, design and management. The 32 page publication suggests that there should be enhanced standards of design and management for homes at Superdensity, which will in turn have an impact on the business models used.

It makes 10 recommendations, each discussed in a separate chapter:

• Neighbourhood context
• Balanced communities
• Making flats work for families
• Management
• Organising and accessing flats
• Privacy
• Outdoor space and the public realm
• Environmental sustainability
• The role of local authorities in procurement
• Meeting the cost of service charges

Another report from PRP is their earlier research study, High Density Housing in Europe: Lessons. Its findings were launched to provide the market with a research-based study of successful high density housing in Europe, at a time when the government was intensifying its efforts to build denser housing schemes, particularly in London and the South East.

The report provides a detailed analysis of successful and attractive high density housing schemes from Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Paris. Importantly, it provides a body of case study-based work and explores the impact that design standards, building quality, lettings and management practices have in making housing successful.

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Forum Questions:

To avoid tension, people need space. How can this be successfully achieved?

New homes are among the smallest in the UK; what can we learn from the Continent?

Isn’t child density especially important to designing density?

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Email: housing@tspltd.co.uk

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