LETTERS: Low ceilings

JONATHAN Glancey's article on the state of our rural communities raised many relevant issues ("England, whose England?", Review, 29 October).

However, he identifies building regulations specifying "ceilings of a certain height" as a reason for the incorrect scale of much so-called vernacular-style housing. This excuse hasn't existed since 1985 when the building regulation requirement for minimum ceiling heights was removed.

Unfortunately, most designers seem emotionally unable to depart from the old ceiling heights which were formulated to give a safe height for gas lamps.

N J Blake

Canterbury, Kent