The UK suffers from what is known as 'rabbit hutches', small family homes and apartments which were built in many towns in the 1960s and 1970s. The term came about when people who moved to new housing estates would complain that the homes were no bigger than those made for their pet rabbits.
But in the intervening years very little has been done to address the problem in the UK whereas in Europe homes are more spacious.
At the British pavilion at this month's Venice Biennale of Architecture 2008, exhibitors are addressing the issue. 'The aim is to look at the culture of housing provision in Britain and to draw some conclusions by comparing with the cultures elsewhere in Europe,' says curator Ellis Woodman.
'It turns out we're building the smallest dwellings in Western Europe. This is because England and Wales are the only parts of Europe without designated space standards.'
Mr Woodman highlights an exhibit by an architecture firm that designed social housing in London and Geneva. The British flats are about 30% smaller. It is evidence, he says, that shows minimum standards must be introduced.
Last year, English Partnerships, a national regeneration agency for England, announced it was adopting size standards based on the old Parker Morris standards that applied to council housing until 1980 – plus 10%.
And in June, London Mayor Boris Johnson said he wanted to revive a form of Parker Morris standards in the capital. It seems likely these will apply to affordable housing and private developments on London Development Agency land.
But the housing industry is resistant to the idea of blanket statutory requirements, questioning whether they would be effective and warning they could increase costs and decrease the number of new homes available.
'If you look at space standards you will be in danger of over-regulating the market and might add to costs of housing provision,' said John Slaughter, a director at the Homebuilders Federation.
