PM urged to address housing needs of ageing population
The Prime Minister has been urged to ensure the upcoming Housing Strategy has a strong focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by our ageing population, in a letter organised by the Housing and Ageing Alliance (HAA).
HAA members work together for improvements to the housing and living conditions of older people; with representatives from organisations including Age UK, the Centre for Ageing Better, Chartered Institute of Housing, National Housing Federation, Associated Retirement Community Operators and specialist providers in the social, charity and private sectors. The letter is signed by members of the HAA as well as senior individuals from a wide range of other organisations.
It calls our ageing population the most important demographic change that our society has seen in decades, and one that will continue in the years ahead. The letter highlights that the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, which reported to Government last year, presents solutions to increase access to high quality, affordable, adaptable and lifelong homes.
Recommendations include increasing the supply of specialist housing, adapting existing housing and ensuring new mainstream housing and new towns are suitable for ageing. There are also important proposals around planning, design, digital technology, community-led housing, better information and advice for consumers, innovation, and leadership.
The full text of the letter is below:
The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer,
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA10 April 2025
Dear Prime Minister,
We the undersigned call on you to ensure that the forthcoming Housing Strategy has a strong focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by our ageing population, the most important demographic change that our society has seen in decades, and one that will continue in the years ahead.
11 million people in England are now aged over 65 and the older population is growing and increasingly diverse.
Sadly, our housing has not kept pace. A longer life in the UK means more years spent in ill-health, often severely impacted by a poor home environment. Today, nearly half of older households include someone living with a long-term illness.
This creates significant issues. At a personal level, it can mean declining wellbeing and health and increased isolation. At a public level, it means additional pressure on the NHS and social care services and a housing market which prevents younger people and families joining or moving up the property ladder. It also means the stymying of investment and growth.
The Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, which reported to Government last year, presents solutions to increase access to high quality, affordable, adaptable and lifelong homes. Recommendations include increasing the supply of specialist housing, adapting existing housing and ensuring new mainstream housing and new towns are suitable for ageing. There are also important proposals around planning, design, digital technology, community-led housing, better information and advice for consumers, innovation, and leadership.
We welcome the recent announcement of further investment into affordable housing and urge you to ensure this plays an important part in the step change necessary to meet the needs of our ageing society.
A Housing Strategy that creates safe, age-friendly, inclusive and diverse communities would help more older people to live healthy and independent lives for longer, support active contributions to society, reduce the impact of extra costs due to ill health, disability, and inaccessible housing and ensure a range of housing options to meet the needs of us all.
Yours sincerely,
Prof Julienne Meyer CBE, Chair of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce (2023-2024)*
Mario Ambrosi, Chair, Housing & Ageing Alliance, and Director of Communications, Anchor*
Prof Les Mayhew, CASS Business School
Bruce Moore, Chief Executive, Housing 21*
Lisabel Miles, Housing Policy Manager, Age UK*
David Sinclair, Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre – UK*
Hilary Burkitt, Policy Manager, Independent Age*
Sarah Jones, Chief Executive, Anchor
John Galvin, Chief Executive, Elderly Accommodation Counsel*
Abdul A Ravat, Head of Development & Relationships, The Abbeyfield Living Society, Chair National Housing Federation Older Person’s Housing, and Lead for Ageing Well with BME National*
Paul Teverson, Director of Communications - McCarthy Stone*
Emma Webster, Chair, Retirement Housing Group
Lauren Walker, Professional Adviser, Royal College of Occupational Therapists*
Nick Phillips, Chief Executive, Almshouse Association*
Jeremy Porteus, Chief Executive, Housing Learning and Improvement Network*
John Tonkiss, Chief Executive, McCarthy Stone
Christina McGill, Director of Social Impact & External Affairs, Habinteg*
Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better
James Lloyd, Director of Communications, Associated Retirement Community Operators*
Sarah Davis, Senior Policy and Practice Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing*
Spencer McCarthy, Chief Executive, Churchill Living
Joan Rutherford, Chair, Older People's Housing Champions*
Dave Bennett, Chair, High Peak Access
Elaine Unegbu, Chair, Greater Manchester Older People's Network Steering Group
Rick Burgess, Campaign Lead, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People
Flick Harris, Chair, Manchester Disabled People's Access Group
Jo Volpe, Chief Executive Officer, Leeds Older People's Forum
Anne Raffle, Chair, Newcastle Elders' Council
Heather Rowell, Chair, Anchor Residents Council and Chair, Anchor Residents Environmental Forum
Jon Hastie, Chief Executive Officer of Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance
Kasia Ojukwu, Senior Housing Advocate, Stay Safe East
James Pickard, Principal & Founding Director, Cartwright Pickard
Richard Griffiths, Senior Architect, Cartwright Pickard
*Housing and Ageing Alliance members.