Basement solution to shoe-box homes

Research by the RIBA has found that the average floor area of the average new three-bedroomed home in the UK is a mere 88sq m.

Not only is this some 8sq m short of the recommended space, it is also significantly less than the average 100sq m provided in most European new homes.

RIBA's study was based on a sample of 3,418 homes across 71 sites in the UK and is based upon the recently introduced London Plan space standards.

According to Harry Rich, RIBA chief executive: 'Shameful shoe-box homes are being churned out all over the country, depriving households of the space they need to live comfortably and cohesively'.

The answer, believes Guy Thompson, head of architecture and sustainability at The Concrete Centre, is below our feet: basements.

'For a two-storey home, a basement can provide up to 50 per cent more living space', he explained.

'Basements are no longer dark coal cellars but can provide light, airy space for study and games rooms, guest suites and utility areas as well as additional storage - something that new homes never have enough off'.

In addition, basements provide good sound insulation and improved energy efficiency.

Research carried out by BRE found that given two houses of the same floor area and construction, the one with a basement would be 10 per cent more energy efficient.

A further sustainability benefit is that basements provide larger homes with increased living space without requiring more land.

House builders argue that the provision of basements would make new homes too expensive.

However this is not the case.

Cost modelling research carried out by the Basement Information Centre found that the cost of constructing a house with a partially below ground basement, divided into rooms and fully finished, adds only 1.9 per cent more to the construction cost.

A house with a fully below-ground basement would cost an additional 6.9 per cent when compared with a house of the same total area.

'These are not huge additional costs and would offer the forward-thinking house builder a distinct competitive advantage over those shoe-box homes,' said Thompson.

'House buyers want more living space and basements provide an economic and sustainable solution'.

Copies of 'Basements for Housing' and 'Basements: Benefits Viability and Costs' may be downloaded from MPA The Concrete Centre website: www.concretecentre.com/publications