Balconies are no longer a luxury – they are an essential part of modern residential design. They provide private outdoor space, enhance wellbeing and contribute to a building’s visual identity. However, delivering standardised balconies that comply with the London Housing Design Guide (LHDG) while managing cost, sustainability and regulatory complexity is no small task.
Table of contents
- Introduction
- Standardised Balconies
- Cost Savings Through Efficiency
- Environmental Benefits
- Built for Compliance
- The Bottom Line
- Contact Us
Standardised Balconies
At Brooksby Projects, we work closely with developers and architects to deliver standardised balconies that are compliant, cost-effective and environmentally sound – without compromising on quality or design intent.
Here’s how we do it:
By rationalising balcony sizes and standardising balustrade designs, in line with the LHDG, we help reduce the number of unique balcony types on a development. This creates multiple benefits across the project lifecycle:
- Shorter design and approval timelines
- Reduced material usage
- Efficient off-site manufacturing
- Streamlined transportation and installation
Standardisation helps deliver architectural consistency and cost control, while still allowing for high-quality, aesthetically-pleasing results.
Cost Savings Through Efficiency
When balcony components are standardised across a development, the financial benefits multiply:
- Lower architectural and engineering costs thanks to fewer design variations
- Reduced procurement costs via bulk ordering
- Optimised factory production in controlled off-site environments
- Faster installation on site, saving labour time and minimising disruption
These efficiencies are particularly valuable on larger residential schemes, where even small unit savings can add up to substantial cost reductions.
Environmental Benefits
Sustainability is built into our standardised balconies from the outset. Brooksby’s approach supports low-carbon, low-waste construction practices:
- We use fully recyclable steel
- We use aluminium with a high recycled content which is also fully recyclable
- We minimise material waste through repeatable designs
- We improve thermal performance, helping reduce a building’s energy consumption
These principles support developers in meeting their sustainability goals and enhance their environmental credentials.
Build for Compliance
Regulatory compliance is a non-negotiable and Brooksby ensures that every balcony solution meets all current UK requirements:
- BS 8579: British Standard for the design of balconies and terraces
- Fire safety: Non-combustible materials and allowance for fire collars in line with Approved Document B
- Accessibility & Energy Efficiency: Fully compliant with Part M and Part L of the Building Regulations
- LHDG requirements: Including minimum 5m2 of private outdoor space for 1–to-2 person dwellings
All of our balcony systems are designed to simplify compliance and reduce the burden on the wider project team.
The Bottom Line
Balconies are vital to the success of modern residential schemes – but they must be delivered affordably, sustainably and in full compliance with a wide range of complex design standards.
Brooksby Projects helps developers achieve this by offering standardised balconies that simplify the process, reduce costs and support greener construction – without compromising on design integrity or user experience.
Contact Us
Looking to deliver balconies that align with the London Housing Design Guide?
Contact Brooksby Projects today to find out how we can help support your next residential development.