Pocket homes
Pocket homes are a type of flat developed by Pocket Living. They were created by chief executive Marc Vlessing as a solution to the problems faced by London's ‘Generation Rent’. His answer was to make them smaller.
Pocket homes are 38 sq. m but are designed with the ‘psychology of space’ in mind, appearing to be larger than they are. They incorporate underfloor heating rather than radiators, showers rather than baths, and high ceilings to maximise natural light. Each flat has a hallway with utility cupboard and storage space, open plan kitchen and dining area, living space, and a separate bedroom. To maximise land use, the flats do not come with car parking.
The average Pocket home is 20% cheaper than a conventional flat.
Potential purchasers must be first-time buyers earning less than the Mayor of London’s affordable housing limit (up to £90,000 per household as of 2018), and must be living or working in the relevant borough. When the buyer comes to sell the Pocket home, they must also sell to someone earning below the limit, which effectively caps the property value by aligning it to wage increases rather than property prices.
In 2017, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced a partnership with Pocket Living, offering a £25 million loan to build more Pocket homes across London.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.