B5.5.4 Integrating functional and flexible home-working

New homes should include a dedicated work area that comfortably fits a desk and chair and receives natural light. While the UK’s Nationally Described Space Standard (NDSS) and the Wakefield District Local Plan do not specify a formal minimum size for home offices, a practical guideline is that this space should be at least 5m².

To maintain space standards and ensure appropriate room use, rooms classified as offices should be smaller than the minimum size for a single bedroom (defined in policy LP3 as 7.5m²). Proposed offices should be designed to prevent use as a bedroom in future by utilising open plan design. Features typical of bedrooms, such as built-in wardrobes, beds, or nightstands, should be absent to prevent inappropriate designation of live/workspaces as bedrooms.