1.5m Homes: Research Shows Potential of Room-Ready Lofts
WATCH: Webinar discusses new research by Savillls showing the potential of building new homes that have easy to inhabit roof spaces, supporting future growth and changing needs.
As the UK government seeks to build 1.5 million homes, new research by Savills commissioned by VELUX has shown the potential of building new-homes with easier to convert lofts. Current building practices in Britain typically mean that homes built today are more challenging to adapt in future. This leads to a greater pressure on development land and limits the option for people to expand their properties more affordably, meaning they have less flexbility when cicrumstances change.
Catch up on the webinar below, chair by former shadow health secretary Rt Hon Jonathan Ashworth CBE, Neil Freshwater (VELUX) and Ed Hampson (Savills)
Read the research report
The research suggests that based on current government targets, around 700,000 additional rooms could be unlocked if room-in-roof ready designs were adopted. The research also highlights a series of typologies to show the land efficiency gains for utlising attic spaces as living areas.
The VELUX report, which includes the Savills research was released as part of a webinar, hosted by former Shadow Health Secretary Johnathan Ashworth. Much construction today for example, utilises truss roofing, where there loft space is not easily to inhabit and often requires more structural changes to do a conversion. The findings also cite the planning system as an occasional barrier, where a planning consent may not account for the potential increased occupancy space and thus the
VELUX roof windows have been bringing daylight and fresh air into peoples’ homes around the world for more than 80 years, creating better living environments. We offer a range of products including roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products, and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. They help create bright, healthy, and energy-efficient places for people who live, work, learn, and play under the roof. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in 37 countries and around 11,900 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company owned by the Villum Foundation and members of the Kann Rasmussen family. In 2023, the VELUX Group had a total revenue of EUR 2.91 billion while VKR Holding had a total revenue of EUR 3.97 billion. The same year, the Villum Foundation and the VELUX FOUNDATION donated a total of EUR 184.6 million in charitable grants.
For more information about the VELUX Group, visit velux.com