The Officer Key Decision meeting scheduled for Wednesday 16 September 2026 is set to consider a proposal for the appointment of Populo Design and Build to manage a national project focused on standard house frames. This initiative aims to develop a pattern book of house designs that can be replicated across various local authorities.

Appointment of Populo Design and Build for National Standards House Frames Project

A key item scheduled for discussion is the proposed appointment of Populo Design and Build to manage the National Standards House Frames Project, specifically a pilot for a pattern book of standard house designs. This project, supported by funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), aims to create a collection of architectural templates that outline building size and layout for repeatable use in future developments. Newham Council has been selected as the lead local authority for this initiative.

The report indicates that the Council is recommended to approve entering into a Development Management Services Agreement with Populo Design & Build. This agreement would cover the delivery of the pattern book of housing designs at a cost of up to £0.740 million, which includes a contingency reserve. The project is structured around five workstreams: Land, Product, Planning, Placemaking, and Economics. Populo Design & Build, a wholly owned council company, is proposed to manage the project, with the Council able to directly award the contract under the Teckal exemption¹ of the Procurement Act 2023².

The pattern book is intended to focus on building structure and technical elements, allowing local authorities to tailor external designs to their specific areas. The project aligns with the Council's Corporate Plan 2022-26, Building a Fairer Newham, which includes a target to provide at least 1,500 new homes by 2026. The initiative is expected to benefit local authorities by speeding up the design process, reducing costs, and accelerating delivery, while also providing the supply chain with a standardised pipeline of demand. The report notes that designs developed through this project will be made open access for all local authorities to use.