MHCLG publishes new guidance for housing for older people and people with disabilities

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government yesterday published new guidance for local authorities on planning policies for housing for older people and people with disabilities.

The guidance includes recommendations which were in the Housing LIN and Shakespeare Martineau's recent later living report including reforming local planning policies to make it easier for developers to use land, and raising the standards which accesible housing must meet.

The guidance also references the Housing LIN's SHOP@ tool and the HAPPI principles for accesibility.

Jeremy Porteus, Chief Executive of Housing LIN said:

This is a concrete step towards building accessible and adaptable homes. Local authorities now have a critical role to play in future proofing our homes in terms of accessibility and adapability.

Susan Kay, Chief Executive at Dunhill Medical Trust (opens new window) said:

“We welcome the PM’s statement about the need to build more accessible homes, but there’s still some way to go.  In particular, we look forward to the consultation about on mandating higher accessibility standards and there’s still extensive and increasingly urgent need to address the suitability of the existing housing stock for an increasingly ageing population.  There’s some fantastic guidance and great examples of effective principles and practice in both mainstream and specialist housing design for older people on Housing LIN’s webpages – we urge everyone with an interest in this important area to take a look.”