LPP2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies
Appendix I
Technical Housing Standards - Nationally Described Space Standards
The standard[1] requires that:
- 'The dwelling provides at least the gross internal floor area and built-in storage area set out in the Table below;
- A dwelling with two or more bed spaces has at least one double (or twin) bedroom ;
- In order to provide one bed space, a single bedroom has a floor area of at least 7.5m2 and is at least 2.15m wide;
- In order to provide two bed spaces, a double (or twin bedroom) has a floor area of least 11.5m2;
- One double (or twin bedroom) is at least 2.75m wide and every other double (or twin) bedroom is at least 2.55m wide;
- Any area with a headroom of less than 1.5m is not counted within the Gross Internal Area unless used solely for storage (if the area under the stairs is to be used for storage, assume a general floor area of 1m2 within the Gross Internal Area);
- Any other area that is solely for storage and has a headroom of 900-1500mm (such as under eaves) is counted at 50% of its floor area, and any lower area lower than 900mm is not counted at all;
- A built-in wardrobe counts towards the Gross Internal Area and bedroom floor requirements, but should not reduce the effective width of the room below the minimum widths set out above. The built-in area in excess of 0.72m2 in a double bedroom and 0.36m2 in a single bedroom counts towards the built-in storage requirement;
- The minimum floor to ceiling height is 2.3m for at least 75% of the Gross Internal Area'.
Table 5: Minimum gross internal floor areas and storage (m2)
| Number of bedrooms (b) | Number of bed spaces (persons) | 1 storey dwellings | 2 story dwellings | 3 storey dwellings | Built-in storage |
| 1b | 1p | 39 (37) * | 1 | ||
| 2p | 50 | 58 | 1.5 | ||
| 2b | 3p | 61 | 70 | 2 | |
| 4p | 70 | 79 | |||
| 3b | 4p | 74 | 84 | 90 | 2.5 |
| 5p | 86 | 93 | 99 | ||
| 6p | 95 | 102 | 108 | ||
| 4b | 5p | 90 | 97 | 103 | 3 |
| 6p | 99 | 106 | 112 | ||
| 7p | 108 | 115 | 121 | ||
| 8p | 117 | 124 | 130 | ||
| 5b | 6p | 103 | 110 | 116 | 3.5 |
| 7p | 112 | 119 | 125 | ||
| 8p | 121 | 128 | 134 | ||
| 6b | 7p | 116 | 123 | 129 | 4 |
| 8p | 125 | 132 | 138 |
Notes (added 19 May 2016):
1. Built-in storage areas are included within the overall GIAs and include an allowance of 0.5m² for fixed services or equipment such as a hot water cylinder, boiler or heat exchanger.
2. GIAs for one storey dwellings include enough space for one bathroom and one additional WC (or shower room) in dwellings with 5 or more bed spaces. GIAs for two and three storey dwellings include enough space for one bathroom and one additional WC (or shower room). Additional sanitary facilities may be included without increasing the GIA provided that all aspects of the space standard have been met.
3. Where a one bedroom one person (1b1p) has a shower room instead of a bathroom, the floor area may be reduced from 39m² to 37m², as shown bracketed.
4. Furnished layouts are not required to demonstrate compliance.
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