Lord Best announces new APPG Inquiry into Regeneration of Outdated Sheltered Housing
During the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People annual general meeting on 25 April, Lord Best launched the latest APPG Inquiry into regenerating outdated sheltered housing.
While the focus of the government’s recently announced Older People’s Housing Task Force will be on the supply of new, purpose-built retirement housing for an ageing population, this new Inquiry will look at how best to regenerate our existing supply of outdated sheltered housing – from modernisation and extensions to repurposing and replacing older stock and service models – for our 21st century expectations.
In making the announcement in the House of Lords, Lord Best said:
"While building new homes for later living is imperative, it is equally important to preserve and upgrade our existing stock too. Every year, a significant number of schemes are being lost to demolition and other uses, amounting to a substantial loss of housing units. Our Inquiry will seek solutions to this problem.”
Sponsored by Abbeyfield, the inquiry panel will meet 5 times over a period of a year, inviting interested parties to present evidence and discuss the issues raised.
Paul Tennant, CEO at Abbeyfield, added:
“Abbeyfield is pleased to be sponsoring this important new Inquiry. We understand the challenges facing those owning and operating homes for older people that require significant investment to meet future needs and standards. We look forward to working with the Inquiry to consider analysis, options and proposed solutions”
Welcoming the news, Jeremy Porteus, CEO at Housing LIN, commented:
“
With over an estimated 680,000 units across all tenures, sheltered housing is the single largest housing asset for older people in the UK. It ranges from quirky almshouses and 20th century sheltered housing to the latest in contemporary retirement living. However, the decarbonisation and energy agenda, improvements in building quality and safety, more modern materials, better ‘care ready’ physical and digital access, and combatting disrepair and poor conditions, present major operational challenges to make our sheltered housing fitter and a home of choice in later life for an increasingly ageing population in the 21st century.”
Membership of the new Inquiry includes:
- Lord Richard Best
- Peter Aldous MP
- Baroness Kay Andrews
- Baroness Liz Barker
- Ruth Cadbury MP
- Lord Ben Stoneham
- Lord George Young of Cookham
- Newcastle City Council
- Neil Revely, Chair Housing Policy Network ADASS/Adviser LGA at ADASS/LGA
- Hugh Owen, Director of Strategy and Public Affairs, Riverside
- Kathryn Fox-Rogers, Chief Operating Officer at JJH
- Paul Teverson, Director of Communications at McCarthy Stone
- Abdul Ravat, Head of Development & Relationships at Abbeyfield
- Paul Tennant, CEO at Abbeyfield
- David McMahon, Director at Ryder Architecture
- Mick Rose, Resident at Housing 21
- Samantha Rowland, Head of Health Care and Senior Living at BNP Paribas
- Jeremy Porteus, CEO at Housing LIN
Housing LIN is proud to be secretariat to the Inquiry.