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Topic
- Designing for affordable housing.
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Assessment Tasks – Instructions
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The requirements of your project are:
- Develop a project plan including some stage gates.
- Conduct your project and meet with your assessor to get sign off at each stage.
- Apply both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Keep notes of your progress throughout the project in your logbook.
- Reflect on the success of your own performance at the end of the project.
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Submission Format:
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The submission comprises two related items:
- You will produce a report for distribution to your audience prior to the presentation. The report should detail ‘key points’ in your presentation and cover the project’s objectives, types of research used, and the outcomes formulated. Your report will meet academic standard formatting and referencing standards.
- A 15-minute verbal presentation with supporting visual aids*. In addition, allow for a further 5 minutes of questioning to follow. You will be expected to respond to questions with reference to your report. One final question will allow you to appraise your own performance in managing the project.
*You are encouraged to make use of images, graphics, drawings and other research material in support of your presentation. Any material that is derived from other sources must be appropriately referenced using a standard form of citation.
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Learning Outcomes
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By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- LO1 Discuss the stages of a design process and the types of information required to communicate, share and manage the project process
- LO2 Explain the different types of construction information developed through the course of a project
- LO3 Produce design propositions that address project requirements defined through feasibility stages
- LO4 Present a construction information package, highlighting the coordination of information between different project stakeholders to ensure accuracy.
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Further Guidance for Students:
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You should read this information before starting on your project.
- Read the assignment brief carefully and think about what it is asking. If you are unsure of what is required then ask your assessor for clarification.
- Apply a range of secondary research sources to plan/scope and support the assignment and its findings. Secondary research sources may include textbooks, journal articles, newspapers and magazine articles.
- Primary research sources may include original first-hand accounts, legal documents, regulations and legislation, results of experiments and market research data collection. Apply both qualitative and quantitative research methods to evaluate data collected from primary research.
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Assignment Scenario:
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Project Title: Affordable Living: Designing Sustainable and Cost-Effective Homes for London
Brief: You are part of a design team tasked with creating a proposal for a small-scale affordable housing development in an urban area of London. The local council has commissioned your team to develop innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective housing solutions that meet the needs of diverse residents, including families, single occupants, and elderly individuals.
Your task is to:
Research & Analysis
- Investigate the current housing challenges in London, focusing on affordability, sustainability, and space constraints.
- Explore existing affordable housing models and materials that reduce construction costs without compromising quality.
Design Proposal
- Develop a concept for a small housing development (e.g., 6–10 units).
- Consider modular construction, eco-friendly materials, and energy-efficient systems.
- Include communal spaces and accessibility features.
Drawings & Visuals
- Produce annotated sketches or CAD drawings showing floor plans, elevations, and site layout.
- Include diagrams showing environmental features (e.g., solar panels, rainwater harvesting).
Cost Estimation
- Provide a basic cost breakdown for construction, materials, and sustainability features.
- Justify how your design remains affordable for both developers and residents.
Presentation
- Prepare a short presentation or design board to pitch your proposal to a mock planning committee.
- Highlight how your design addresses affordability, sustainability, and community needs.
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Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
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Pass
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Merit
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Distinction
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LO1 Discuss the stages of a design process and the types of information required to communicate, share and manage the project process
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D1 Critically evaluate the relationship between design and project stages, highlighting the processes and procedures to ensure information coordination throughout.
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P1 Describe the stages and activities of a construction design process.
P2 Explain the types of information required throughout the different stages of a project process.
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M1 Assess the relationship between design and project stages and the information sharing requirements in each.
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LO2 Explain the different types of construction information developed through the course of a project
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P3 Examine a brief to ascertain the requirements of a building project
P4 Outline the relationships between drawings, schedules and specifications.
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M2 Analyse the importance of clash detection and information coordination.
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LO3 Produce design propositions that address project requirements defined through feasibility stages
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D2 Evaluate a package of construction information, in relation to their coordination and accuracy.
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P5 Create construction drawings and details using industry-standard tools and techniques.
P6 Produce specifications, schedules and an outline construction health and safety phase plan for a given project.
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M3 Prepare specification prelims and schedule of works, in coordination with construction drawings and details.
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LO4 Present a construction information package, highlighting the coordination of information between different project stakeholders to ensure accuracy
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M4 Analyse the ways in which different forms of contractual relationships between stakeholders influence flow of information in a construction project.
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Affordable Homes Design Project – How to Tackle Research & Design (Example Guide)
Develop a project plan including some stage gates
1. Understanding the project brief
In many construction design courses, students are given a project where they act as part of a small design team. The task is usually to propose a compact, affordable housing development in a major UK city, with a focus on:
- Affordability – keeping build and running costs realistic
- Sustainability – reducing energy use and environmental impact
- Good use of space – making the most of a tight urban site
The brief typically asks for two big things at the start:
- Research & Analysis of current housing issues and existing affordable housing models
- A Design Proposal for a small scheme (for example 6–10 homes) that responds to those issues
The sections below explain what strong students normally include in these parts of their work.
2. Research & Analysis
This is the foundation of the whole project. Instead of jumping straight into drawing, students are expected to show that they understand the context they are designing for.
2.1 Housing challenges in a big UK city
A good project will start by setting out the main problems, for example:
- High land values and rising house prices
- Rent levels that are too high for low- and middle-income households
- Pressure on land, leading to small, awkward sites needing infill developments
- Concerns about energy bills and fuel poverty
Students usually draw on reports, government statistics and housing charity publications to explain these issues in simple language. The aim is to show that there is a real need for affordable, well-designed homes, not just to repeat the brief.
2.2 Affordability and sustainability
The analysis should then look at how affordability and sustainability fit together. For example:
- Basic explanation of how poor insulation and inefficient heating increase running costs.
- Short discussion of why long-term life-cycle cost can be more important than the cheapest initial build price.
- Simple links between good fabric performance (walls, windows, roofs) and lower energy demand.
Students are not expected to be professional energy consultants, but they should show that they understand the principle: a slightly higher investment in better materials or systems can save money for residents over many years.
2.3 Existing affordable housing models and materials
Most briefs ask learners to “explore existing affordable housing models and materials that reduce construction costs without compromising quality”. A strong response normally includes:
- One or two case studies of successful affordable housing schemes (from the UK or similar contexts).
- A short explanation of modular or prefabricated construction, and why it can be quicker and sometimes cheaper than traditional methods.
- Examples of cost-effective but robust materials, such as panelised timber systems, light-gauge steel, or clever use of standard components.
The key is to link each example back to the project:
- How does this method help keep costs down?
- How does it affect construction time on a tight urban site?
- What does it mean for quality, durability and maintenance?
2.4 Linking research to the brief
At the end of the research section, good students bridge from analysis to design. They briefly explain how their findings will shape the proposal, for example:
- Favouring modular units to reduce time on site.
- Keeping the building form simple to improve buildability.
- Prioritising good insulation and sensible services to control running costs.
- Providing a mix of units so that different household types can live in the same scheme.
