VIDEO | How smart design and planning can solve the housing crisis

Enabling SMEs to deliver more homes may be the answer to our housing problem, according to Phil Cooper of Hope Architects and Anna Relph of Turley.

Cooper, who founded the Peak District-based architecture practice, spoke with Place North journalist Julia Hatmaker about how design – such as the firm’s Skeleton House system – could help SMEs resolve the viability issues that plague projects.

Relph, a director at Turley, brought in the planning perspective, sharing the changes to the planning system that would actually have an impact on getting homes built quickly. These include having local plans look beyond the gigantic greenfield sites into those plots of lands that boast smaller-scale housing provision.

Both discussed the importance of data and how that will enable developers to work smarter, not harder, to get good projects over the line.

You can hear their thoughts in the video at the top of this article – and enjoy some quality footage of Hope Architects’ brand ambassador, the adorable Honey. The video is also on the Place North YouTube channel.

You can find out more about Hope Architects and its Skeleton House offering at hopearchitects.com.