Helping architects with compliance in external works

Table of Contents:

• Fire safety and bin stores
• Cycle parking and LCDS
• Security and Secured by Design
• Streamlining compliance

Compliance is now one of the biggest pressures facing architects in the design of external works. From fire safety to cycling provision, bin placement to security standards, there is a growing need to demonstrate that every aspect of a scheme aligns with current policy, legislation and planning guidance.

urbanspec is designed to help architects meet these expectations with confidence. Our coordinated external works systems simplify compliance across key areas, enabling faster specification and reducing the risk of delay or revision during planning.

Fire safety and bin stores

Following the Hackitt Review into building regulations and fire safety after the Grenfell Tower fire (2018), there is increased scrutiny over the location and containment of waste storage near buildings. Poorly managed bins or internal refuse rooms pose a serious fire risk, particularly in high-density housing.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations (CFPA) both give clear guidance on this. If a bin store is within 6 metres of a building, it should be built to provide at least 30 minutes of fire resistance. This applies to both general refuse and battery charging areas. Many insurance companies are starting to ask for fire resistance ratings, often 60 minutes, on enclosures for e-bike and e-scooter charging, to reduce fire risk in residential settings.

Over recent years, the London Fire Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team has attended a range of incidents at houses in multiple occupation (HMO), where stored items such as prams or discarded items such as household furnishings and rubbish, have been involved in fires.

It is recognised that the storage of items in communal areas is a problem that can be hard to monitor and resolve. As many communal areas are used for escape purposes in case of fire, these should be free from combustible materials and obstructions. 

The Home Office guidance on fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, recommends that all waste storage be ideally approached directly from the open air with permanent ventilation, be separated from all other parts of the building by fire-resisting construction and not be located within protected stairways or protected lobbies.

urbanspec bin housings are developed in line with this guidance — offering lockable, ventilated, non-combustible units with standardised layouts that make it easier for architects to demonstrate compliance at design stage.

Cycle parking and LCDS

The London Cycle Design Standards (LCDS), published by Transport for London, have become a benchmark for high-quality cycling infrastructure across the UK. For architects working on residential or mixed-use schemes, meeting LCDS guidance on accessibility, security, capacity and user experience can be a challenge, particularly in constrained or retrofit sites.

urbanspec cycle hubs and stores are pre-engineered to meet LCDS expectations, with accessible access aisles, robust locking points and layouts that follow best-practice spatial guidance. Selected models are independently tested and certified to Sold Secure Bicycle Gold for maximum theft resistance, helping meet Secured by Design requirements. For external general storage, urbanspec housings can also be specified to Sold Secure Cabinet Silver.

Whether designing for long-stay residential or short-stay visitor parking, our modular units help achieve compliance without time-consuming detailing.

Security and Secured by Design

urbanspec systems also support Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation. Secure locking systems, anti-climb features, natural surveillance and access control are all built into our bin and cycle store designs, helping reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity; a frequent concern raised in planning consultations and estate redevelopment.

Streamlining compliance

For architects, compliance is not just about meeting a checklist. It is about reducing risk, saving time and ensuring proposals can move smoothly through planning and into delivery. urbanspec provides the supporting documentation, CAD files and technical detail needed to simplify specification.

From fire safety to LCDS, SBD to space planning standards, our products are designed to align with current expectations, helping architects stay focused on design quality rather than red tape.