Minimum space standards

Minimum space standards made an unscheduled return to the housing sector last week when regeneration agency English Partnerships unveiled a set of minimum requirements that go beyond the old Parker Morris standards abandoned 40 years ago. The new standards apply to all EP schemes from 1 November 2007, the agency confirmed this week.

The agency’s requirement for minimum internal floor areas (MIFA), calculated in line with the RICS Gross Internal Floor Area, are:

• 1 Bed / 2 person dwellings – 51 m2
• 2 Bed / 3 person dwellings – 66 m2
• 2 Bed / 4 person dwellings – 77 m2
• 3 Bed / 5 person dwellings – 93 m2
• 4 Bed / 6 person dwellings – 106 m2