{"id":884,"date":"2010-04-16T18:43:29","date_gmt":"2010-04-16T18:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singleaspect.org.uk\/?page_id=884"},"modified":"2025-11-30T20:25:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T20:25:27","slug":"crap-flats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?page_id=884","title":{"rendered":"Crap Flats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a name=\"top\"><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#sad\">Single aspect&nbsp;dwellings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#overheat\">Overheating<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#air\">Ventilation, inadequate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#outside\">Outside space, little or none<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sun\">Sunlight, no direct<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#kitchen\">Kitchen, lack of separate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ceiling\">Ceiling height, low<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#storage\">Storage, inadequate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#internal\">Internal rooms, bathroom and kitchen as<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ensuite\">Ensuites, gratuitous<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#velux\">Velux vs Dormer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pmt\">Office to residential in Croydon<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/?page_id=884#kid\">Urban Houses in Kidbrooke<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#noise\">Noise, lifts and stairs proximity<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#doors\">Doors, direction of opening<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"sad\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Single aspect dwellings<\/strong> -&gt; <a href=\"\/?p=21425\">Single aspect flats<\/a><\/p>\n<p>They are little better than back to back houses which were made illegal in the <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?page_id=2259\">Housing Act of 1909<\/a>.&nbsp; It&#8217;s true that you can ventilate them if you leave the entrance door <del><\/del> open, but it would be preferable to open <del><\/del>windows on opposite&nbsp; sides of the dwelling to create a through draught.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"overheat\"><\/a><strong>Overheating<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Overheating in single aspect flats\/houses&nbsp;<\/strong>(from the <a href=\"https:\/\/savehove.wordpress.com\/\">Save Hove blog<\/a> by Valerie Paynter)<br \/>\nHouse builders today increasingly cram flats into buildings so they are single-aspect only. Any prevailing wind direction that might help with ventilation is denied to them. Cross ventilation requires two windows\/doors and not both facing the same way! This can result in harmful overheating . . .&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/savehove.wordpress.com\/2013\/05\/09\/overheating-in-single-aspect-flatshouses\/\">read on<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Overheating is directly linked to lack of efficient ventilation as described above. The articles linked below describe the present situation:-<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/nf46_po68_web.pdf\">Overheating in new homes<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/overheating-guide.pdf\">Understanding Overheating &#8211; Where to start<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/report-gha-preventing-overheating-final-140217.pdf\">Preventing Overheating<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #000000; padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"\/web\/How%20to%20be%20cool%20%20Tackling%20overheating%20in%20UK%20homes%20%20%20Technical%20%20%20Building%20Design.html\">Tackling overheating in UK homes<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/7604\/2185850.pdf\">Investigation into Overheating in Homes<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"\/pdf\/saxtongardensleeds.pdf\">Saxton Gardens Leeds<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bregroup.com\/insights\/guidance-to-overheating-in-dwellings\">BRE Overheating Guidance<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bregroup.com\/\">BRE Assessment Protocol<\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.parliament.uk\/pa\/cm201719\/cmselect\/cmenvaud\/826\/826.pdf\">Heatwaves: adapting to climate change<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"air\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Ventilation -&gt;<\/strong><strong> lack of -&gt; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=1395\">Alfa Laval<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A single aspect dwelling without forced ventilation is likely to suffer from food smells and to be unhygienic.&nbsp; There is a growing trend to build multi-storey single aspect dwellings that only face one way, they have no back door, the air will not change by way of a through draught.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dh-partner.com\/uk\/en_GB\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5735\" style=\"border: 0pt none;\" title=\"pass_vent\" src=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/pass_vent.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"155\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is bad for the building and bad for the people inside.&nbsp; We as a society are allowing houses to be built that may well come to be regarded as a hazard to public health but these can be stopped if only the planners will stop passing them for building.<\/p>\n<p>6\/5\/2011: This from Inside Housing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidehousing.co.uk\/home\/home\/room-to-breathe1-27128\">&gt;Room to breathe<\/a>&lt;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"outside\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>No outside space<\/strong> -&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=2103\">Woods House Grosvenor Waterside<\/a> [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.makearchitects.com\/projects\/grosvenor-waterside\/\">MAKE<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/a2dominion.co.uk\/\">A2D<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>No private amenity space be it balcony, terrace or garden.&nbsp; The same applies to many tower block flats and other types of city flat.&nbsp; The difference is I think, and it&#8217;s an important one, that those flats are often large and dual aspect.&nbsp; Their residents are not seeking outside space as an escape from poor quality dwellings.&nbsp; The unfortunate residents of a small and poorly lit single aspect apartment most certainly are.<\/p>\n<p>A notable feature of <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/sry\">Cook&#8217;s Camden<\/a> is that many of these estates were built with outside space included.&nbsp; As a result of the terracing of so many (<a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=8289\">Branch Hill<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=7679\">Alexandra Road<\/a> \/ <a href=\"\/pic\/dprd\/\">Dartmouth Park Road<\/a>) a balcony is provided for every flat.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"sun\"><\/a><strong>Sunlight -&gt; lack of -&gt; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=979\">Academy Central \u2013 Assael \/ Taylor Wimpey<\/a><br \/>\nNorth facing single aspect flats such as those <del><\/del>at <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=979\">Academy Central<\/a> in Longbridge Road, Barking <del><\/del>receive next to no direct sunlight whatsoever.&nbsp; Sunlight is recognised as an essential ingredient of a healthy existence both physically and mentally, look at the suicide rates and alcoholism in Scandinavian countries.Yet here as one example we have Assael and Taylor Wimpey <del><\/del>putting people in little boxes off corridors in a former college without taking the trouble to ensure that one side of the dwelling faces the sun.<\/p>\n<p>Australian take on lack of sunlight here:- <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sunlight_aus.pdf\">Sunlight Australia.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Please bear in mind that in Australia the sun shines from the North.&nbsp; A North facing flat will be sunny and a South facing flat will not receive direct sunlight.<br \/>\nSee <a href=\"\/?p=21466\">One Regent Place Manchester<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"kitchen\"><\/a><strong>Kitchen, disappearance of<\/strong> -&gt; almost any plan on this blog<\/p>\n<p>In almost every new development whose floor plans it has been my displeasure to view, the kitchen has been replaced by <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=8092\">a few units in a corner<\/a> or a line along the dark wall of the living room.&nbsp; The appearance of the kitchen \u2013 living room \u2013 diner as a replacement for the traditional kitchen \/ dining room is a depressing and unwelcome trend.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>anon&nbsp;|&nbsp;1 April 2011 3:36 pm<\/p>\n<p>Well don&#8217;t include the estates in the masterplan then, current older council estates probably have better space design than any new developer led design. Just take a look at the Factory Quarter in H and F for poor developer led design.<\/p>\n<p>All the shared ownership units have the kitchens in the rear of the living room and are so dark that in order to use the kitchen you need the lights on no matter what time of day it is. How is this sustainable or pleasant. They have sold all the upper level units to investors in the Far East leaving the worst ones to sell in the UK so we have a shortage here and they are still selling the units outside the country? Is Hammersmith and Fulham going to prevent this or has it already happened on this site?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bdonline.co.uk\/mp-slams-farrells-earls-court-scheme\/5015980.article\">https:\/\/www.bdonline.co.uk\/news\/mp-slams-farrell%E2%80%99s-earls-court-scheme\/5015980.article<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It has arrived so far unchallenged by the regulators but is going to be hard to reverse because each dwelling no longer has the space required to reinstate the kitchen.&nbsp; What is ridiculous is that the same flat will often contain a bathroom for each occupant thus taking away the space that could and should have been the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>This from the RIBA and their excellent Case for Space publication:-<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>8 sqm is the single bedroom you\u2019re missing. It\u2019s the space for a new arrival to the family, the space that means the kids have a room of their own or a spare room for a guest to stay over. It\u2019s the space that could take the kitchen out of the lounge and the sounds and smells that go with it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/caseforspace.pdf\">CaseforSpace.pdf<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"ceiling\"><\/a><strong>Low ceilings<\/strong> \u2013&nbsp;The London SPG which has replaced the LHDG<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Standard 31 \u2013 A minimum ceiling height of 2.5 metres for at least 75% of the gross internal area is strongly encouraged<\/p>\n<p>2.3.44 Table 3.3 of the Minor Alterations recognises that ceiling heights are an important element in the design of a dwelling in the unique circumstances of London.<\/p>\n<p>They can help offset issues associated with its distinct higher densities and effects of climate change by positively impacting on how spacious, light and comfortable the dwelling is.<\/p>\n<p>High ceilings can improve the amount and quality of natural light and ventilation and provide flexibility in the use of a room. Therefore, a ceiling height of 2.5 meters is strongly encouraged in London<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.london.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/Interim%20London%20Housing%20Design%20Guide.pdf\">LHDG<\/a><a name=\"ceiling\"><\/a> specified:-<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>5.4&nbsp;&nbsp; Floor to Ceiling Heights<br \/>\n5.4.1 The minimum floor to ceiling height in habitable rooms is 2.5m between finished floor level and finished ceiling level. A minimum floor to ceiling height of 2.6m in habitable rooms is considered desirable and taller ceiling heights are encouraged in ground floor dwellings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.london.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/Interim%20London%20Housing%20Design%20Guide.pdf\">Interim_London_Housing_Design_Guide.pdf<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It looks as though the standard has been watered down and I&#8217;m not sure how much weight &#8220;strongly encouraged&#8221; will carry against the determination of certain developers to go against the recommendations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Empress State Building &#8211; Earls Court<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>3.146 The Mayor\u2019s Housing SPG recommends that the number of units&nbsp;served by an individual core should not exceed 8 in order to help foster a sense of&nbsp;community. As a result of the existing configuration of the building, this requirement&nbsp;cannot be met.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the Mayor\u2019s Housing SPG recommends a floor to ceiling&nbsp;height of at least 2.5m and, as a result of the existing low ceiling heights, the proposals&nbsp;only achieve between 2.3m and 2.5m heights.<\/p>\n<p>On balance however it is considered that&nbsp;the, overall, proposals achieve a good standard of accommodation and these two small&nbsp;areas of non-compliance are considered acceptable in this instance.<\/p>\n<p>Link -&gt;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.lbhf.gov.uk\/documents\/g2492\/Public%20reports%20pack%2003rd-Apr-2014%2019.00%20Planning%20Applications%20Committee.pdf?T=10\">https:\/\/democracy.lbhf.gov.uk\/<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Heard through <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DaveHill\">@DaveHill<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"storage\"><\/a><strong>Storage -&gt; <\/strong>see Bathrooms and toilets, en-suite<\/p>\n<p>In the days of Parker Morris standards between 1961 \u2013 1980, it was possible to find space in a house to store domestic articles not in use such as the bucket, ironing board, vacuum cleaner, cleaning fluids, spare toilet rolls, stepladder, boots, shoes, and what have you.<\/p>\n<p>Now, in newly built houses and flats, it isn\u2019t.&nbsp; This is because what was the space for cupboards is now taken up with gratuitous <a href=\"#ensuite\">ensuites<\/a>.&nbsp; What&#8217;s wrong with sharing a bathroom?&nbsp; Are we all so selfish and impatient now?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"internal\"><\/a><strong>Bathrooms and toilets, internal<\/strong> -&gt; see <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?page_id=5595\">The Scissor Maisonette<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In modern flats I detest these things because they are a lazy way of designing sanitation into a dwelling while not providing daylight.&nbsp; Most often the flat is single aspect but I&#8217;ve seen them used in a modern house in Cambridge (Cavendish Place) where the usual excess of ensuites existed and the architect didn&#8217;t want to &#8220;waste&#8221; an outside wall putting a bathroom against it.<\/p>\n<p>The one exception I&#8217;m prepared to make is <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?page_id=5595\">the scissor maisonette<\/a> which makes up for this by the light flooding in to the living room, kitchen and bedrooms owing to the dual aspect and the large windows.&nbsp; The whole nature of living inside the dwelling is so enhanced by the design that on this occasion a compromise is worth accepting.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"ensuite\"><\/a><strong>Bathrooms and toilets, en-suite -&gt; <\/strong>see <a href=\"#storage\">storage<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It started with the master bedroom in a family household.&nbsp; I presume that the parents wanted access to a shower and toilet when the bathroom was occupied and so was born the en-suite.&nbsp; Then the developers picked up on it and now it\u2019s difficult to find a newly built flat that doesn\u2019t have an en-suite in the larger bedroom even when there\u2019s a perfectly serviceable bathroom next door, even in a two bedroom flat.&nbsp; I think I&#8217;ve found out why, click the image below.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/img_2735.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5725\" style=\"border: 0pt none;\" title=\"Img_2735x\" src=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/img_2735x-300x179.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"179\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Genesis homes think you should have a bathroom each<\/p>\n<p>This takes much needed space out of the bedroom and is entirely unnecessary.&nbsp; In a new flat with absolutely no storage space, the en-suite unit takes up space that could have been better used for cupboards and a wall around the increasingly non-existent kitchen.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Alun Nicholas | 21 September 2011 11:47 am<\/p>\n<p>The simple fact is once you remove the unnecessary sales gimics of separate utility, ensuite, conservatory etc, small can be far more than adequate, not for family life or even long term living, but as that first step onto the property ladder&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Barry Reid | 21 September 2011 11:56 am<\/p>\n<p>Right on the money, Alun Nicholas. The builders shoe horning en-suites into previously adequate housetypes while keeping the GIA the same has exacerbated the problem massively over recent years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bdonline.co.uk\/architects-attack-ribas-space-standards-campaign\/5024896.article\">https:\/\/www.bdonline.co.uk\/news\/architects-attack-riba\u2019s-space-standards-campaign\/5024896.article<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a title=\"User profile page\" href=\"https:\/\/profile.theguardian.com\/user\/id\/2395344\">tangsonghe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>26 October 2012 5:46PM<\/p>\n<p>[ . . . ]<\/p>\n<p>The craziest thing in my opinion is that these places always have two bathrooms. 70 m2 and two bathrooms? If I lived in such a poky box, an en suite would be the last thing on my mind.<\/p>\n<p>[ . . . ]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2012\/oct\/26\/new-build-homes-british\">https:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk\/commentisfree\/2012\/oct\/26\/new-build-homes-british<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"User profile page\" href=\"https:\/\/profile.theguardian.com\/user\/id\/3526897\">rosybeeme<\/a><\/p>\n<p>26 October 2012 5:49PM<br \/>\nResponse to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2012\/oct\/26\/new-build-homes-british\">4ngela, 26 October 2012 5:13PM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I entirely agree about the daft inclusion of an ensuite bathroom in small flats. A few years ago I was considering buying a new build off plan. The bathroom was accessible to both bedrooms and there was an additional separate toilet.<\/p>\n<p>I asked the developer if the ensuite could be removed to allow more space for storage in the main bedroom. He thought I was mad and told me that he had to stick to the original plan or he would breach his planning permission but that once installed he could come and take it out again!<\/p>\n<p>The ensuite is a silly bit of marketing appealing to snob value. Great if you can afford a home big enough for one without compromising space elsewhere but otherwise it&#8217;s ridiculous, especially if you live on your own or as a couple (I can see the point for those with families).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2012\/oct\/26\/new-build-homes-british\">https:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk\/commentisfree\/2012\/oct\/26\/new-build-homes-british<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr>\n<p>I&#8217;ve had to reconsider my objection to two bathroom dwellings in view of two comments in recent years, the first from Alison Redmond under my [edited]&nbsp;<a href=\"\/?p=8092\">Kidbrooke Village Phase One<\/a> article<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>there is a change in trend now that as people can\u2019t afford 1 bed flats, they purchase a 2 bed with friends, or to rent out the spare room. As such 2 bathrooms are now required as standard. This explains the en-suite. &#8211; Alison Redmond<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>and another, more recently from an architect in, I presume Denmark possibly Copenhagen judging by his comments in an exchance of emails, who makes pretty much the same point as Alison.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The two bathrooms (and perhaps no separate living room) designs make the flats easier to rent out to two separate people, which may give a better income than renting it to a single person\/family. Wrong priority in my opinion. &#8211;&nbsp;Nikolas Andersen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So there you have it. I&#8217;ve learned something. That&#8217;s the problem with being an observer only and not living among Generation Y or designing flats but I listen and I&#8217;m glad people write to me so thank you both.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"velux\"><\/a><strong>Velux vs Dormer -&gt; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=1214\">Wivenhoe<\/a><a name=\"velux\"><\/a> [TW] and <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/lang_lib.jpg\">Langley Library<\/a><a name=\"velux\"><\/a> [A2D]<\/p>\n<p>Velux windows are becoming increasingly common where developers have sought to make maximum use of internal space by building flats into what once would simply have been the attic. They will be noisy when it rains or hails and allow direct sunlight to heat the room in a way that a dormer would not.  They give you a good view of the roof but a dormer enables a view of the street below.<\/p>\n<p>The link above for Langley Library takes you to a floor plan showing Bedroom 1 with a Velux window only to provide illumination, with no view out.&nbsp; This is evident from the <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ll_front_el.jpg\">front elevation<\/a> where I have circled the offending skylight of Bedroom 1.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"pmt\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Office to residential<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>UPDATE 18\/5\/17<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/insidecroydon.com\/2024\/02\/14\/green-dragon-residents-shocked-by-7000-service-charge-bills\/\">Greendragon House<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>UPDATE 27\/3\/17<\/strong> Now these:- <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2017\/mar\/27\/dog-kennel-flats-barnet-house-smaller-than-travelodge-room\">Slums! in Barnet<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>Croydon<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tiny flats for sale space standards ignored. <a href=\"https:\/\/inspiredhomes.uk.com\/\">Inspired<\/a>&nbsp;appears to be the company with the most blocks on offer. Expired I call it. Majority single aspect with dual aspect on the corners and so small&nbsp;they are sold on the finishes not the layout.<\/p>\n<p>Example:- <a href=\"https:\/\/inspiredhomes.uk.com\/\">Rutland House Epsom<\/a> 1 bed &#8211; 303sqft &#8211; on the 3rd floor at \u00a3270,000<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/inspiredhomes.uk.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-21123 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.singleaspect.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/RH-F3-28-451x273.png\" alt=\"rh-f3-28-451x273\" width=\"451\" height=\"273\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Flat shown is actual size<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/pm\/index_old.php\">320sqft<\/a> is the Parker Morris minimum space recommendation for one person.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/inspiredhomes.uk.com\/\">Brochure<\/a> for two Croydon properties.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Articles below are listed in linked order:-<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"content__headline js-score\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2016\/nov\/15\/office-home-conversions-housing-stock\">Boom in office-to-home conversions drives rise in housing stock<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"content__headline js-score\">Croydon office to flats space race<\/p>\n<p class=\"content__headline js-score\">Map of Croydon office to flats developments<\/p>\n<p class=\"content__headline js-score\">Office to flats development blocked<\/p>\n<p>Developer beats the blocking deadline<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.planningportal.co.uk\/permission\/responsibilities\/planning-permission\/permitted-development-rights\/\">Permitted development<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; the rules and regulations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"kid\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Urban houses<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>14\/8\/16 Now these at <a href=\"\/?p=8090\">Kidbrooke<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/homesandproperty\/buying-mortgages\/londons-family-homes-reinvented-blackheaths-kidbrooke-village-launches-newlook-urban-houses-with-rooftop-gardens-and-flexible-floorplans-a103406.html\">Multi-storey back to backs<\/a>&nbsp;HT&nbsp;<a class=\"ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewBooton\">@<span class=\"u-linkComplex-target\">AndrewBooton<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;not forgetting <a href=\"\/?p=13254\">Ellesmere St<\/a>. According <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/homesandproperty\/buying-mortgages\/pod-houses-the-next-generation-of-sustainable-uk-houses-are-being-prebuilt-in-factories-using-cuttingedge-architecture-to-create-unique-and-flexible-homes-a105106.html\">to the LES<\/a> soon to be in Reading too. Modern <a href=\"\/?page_id=2259\">back to backs.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk\/planning-and-building-control\/planning-permission-and-enforcement\/view-planning-applications\">planning portal<\/a>&nbsp;and search for this:-&nbsp;<strong>16\/1079\/F<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>16\/1079\/F <\/strong><span class=\"divider1\">|<\/span> <span class=\"description\">Construction of 15 (13&#215;3-bed, 2&#215;4-bed) dwellings in the form of the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/homesandproperty\/buying-mortgages\/londons-family-homes-reinvented-blackheaths-kidbrooke-village-launches-newlook-urban-houses-with-rooftop-gardens-and-flexible-floorplans-a103406.html\">Berkeley Homes Urban Houses<\/a>&#8221; typology with associated car parking, landscaping, cycle parking and refuse storage. <\/span><span class=\"divider2\">|<\/span> <span class=\"address\">Land at Weigall Road, Phase 2, Kidbrooke Village, Kidbrooke, SE3<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/16_1079_f-proposed_drawings-348891.pdf\">16_1079_F-PROPOSED_DRAWINGS-348891.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Comments<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Imagine sleeping in a bedroom with just a skylight!&#8221; (1st floor bedroom)<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s quite shocking to see the return of back-to-back housing. The first floor bedroom at the back of house doesn&#8217;t even have a window (just a roof light), so while there might be some natural light, there is absolutely no view to look out to.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"noise\"><\/a><strong>Noise -&gt; lifts and stairs -&gt; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=1395\">Alfa Laval<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"comment-11\">\n<p>The floor plan below from Alfa Laval has a bedroom adjacent to a double lift shaft.&nbsp; At Trellick Tower, Erno Goldfinger placed the lifts in an entirely separate tower to avoid problems of&nbsp; noise transmission and for safety.&nbsp; I find it difficult to believe that an experienced architect would have designed what I found while looking at <a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=1395\">Alfa Laval<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/?p=1395\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border: 0pt none;\" title=\"alfa1\" src=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/alfa12.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"386\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s got a corridor on one side along with banging door closures, a recycling store on the N side (think glass&nbsp; and cans) and a double lift shaft bound to a common wall the other side of which is the bedroom.&nbsp; Noise and vibration are likely to be transmitted from the lifts and counterweights to the bedroom, not to mention noise from the stairs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"doors\"><\/a><strong>Door openings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When a room is designed to be below a certain size the door is hung to open outwards, such as for a cupboard.&nbsp; Ensuite bathrooms and toilets are now so small that the door cannot be accommodated inside the room and opens into the bedroom restricting the placing of furniture.&nbsp; Or alternatively the door may be hung so as to open into a corridor causing clashes and impeding free passage in the corridor.<\/p>\n<p>There was a time when it was considered good practice to hang doors so that they opened so as to preserve the privacy of a room, this idea seems to have been abandoned, which is&nbsp;a great pity, it was a good convention.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>On a related note I&#8217;ve been told by nurses from a generation ago that they were trained to lay pillows with the open end away from the entrance, for appearances sake.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> When I trained as a carpenter in 1976 at the Brick Development Association (now a McDonalds) at Colindale on the Edgeware Road we were taught to fit skirting such that the overlapping piece faced away from the door thus making the joint less visible.&nbsp; <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This was&nbsp; in the days before all skirting was mitred and when moulded skirting (cut on a spindle) had to be cut to fit its neighbour.<\/em><em> To me these small things are important and a symptom of what we have lost as society has progressed, if you can call this progress.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>One of the commentators below has written on this subject at:-<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/doc\/ArqViewsComment.html\">When is a door not just a door?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>OLD PAGE:<\/strong> If you are interested in seeing the old page that started this off then it&#8217;s here <a title=\"Back online\" href=\"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/php\/design.php\">Old Page<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>11th May 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Somebody typed in <em>Retrofit balconies tower block<\/em> to Google this morning.&nbsp; If that is what you&#8217;re looking for you need to read this article here:-<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160408223833\/https:\/\/designofhomes.co.uk\/042-tour-bois-le-pretre.html\">https:\/\/www.designofhomes.co.uk\/042-tour-bois-le-pretre.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Single aspect&nbsp;dwellings Overheating Ventilation, inadequate Outside space, little or none Sunlight, no direct Kitchen, lack of separate Ceiling height, low Storage, inadequate Internal rooms, bathroom and kitchen as Ensuites, gratuitous Velux vs Dormer Office to residential in Croydon Urban Houses in Kidbrooke Noise, lifts and stairs proximity Doors, direction of opening Single aspect dwellings -&gt; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-884","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=884"}],"version-history":[{"count":60,"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30377,"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/884\/revisions\/30377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/singleaspect.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}