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Intergenerational Housing

There is growing interest in intergenerational housing. There are a number of factors influencing this.

These include: the number of over 25s who still live with their parents, the number of families with grandparents living with them, and other home sharing or co-living arrangements in mainstream housing. At the same time, the specialist housing for older people is also beginning to embrace mixed aged housing solutions and/or offer a home for a variety intergenerational activities.

On this page, we have also compiled a selection of resources that you may find useful on intergenerational and multi-generational living. We are also proud to be the Secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People Inquiry into Creating Intergenerational Communities.

And for more about how we can help you strategically or operationally develop a better range of housing choices and transform services for people in an intergenerational housing setting, email us at: consultancy@housinglin.org.uk (opens new window).

Strengthening the intergenerational contract: investing for intergenerational fairness

This report from the International Longevity Centre explores people’s perceptions and experiences of intergenerational inequalities, with a view to identifying solutions that will help strengthen the intergenerational contract - the principle whereby different generations support one another at different points in their lives, depending on their needs and resources - and support the wellbeing of all generations.

A Village Apart: Rethinking Age-Segregated Retirement Housing for a More Intergenerational Future

In this blog, Amelia Swaby, Part II Architectural Assistant at P+HS Architects, explores whether or not a particular type of age-segregation can harm social integration and wellbeing.

A Village Apart

This critical analysis, written by student Amelia Swaby, looks into the effects of age segregation within retirement communities and considers how we can design with a more intergenerational lens.

Healthier Lives Across Generations: A Blueprint for Intergenerational Living

This Blueprint is a call to action and a strategic plan designed to promote intentional intergenerational housing and communities that foster meaningful interactions among people of all generations.

Intergenerationality in the Context of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: Older people’s Experiences and Perspectives on Place and Community Living in the UK

This research, published in the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, emphasises the importance of inclusive and accessible intergenerational places and activities that foster sustainable social connections and combat ageism.

Becoming Intergenerational “grandfriends”

Explore how homes should offer more than just physical shelter; they should enhance social and emotional wellness in this blog by Di Newton, Co-founder at AHN Education and Training.

What's in a home? Bridging generational divides through housing

This Churchill Fellowship blog from Savannah Fishel outlines aims, and invites collaboration, ahead of her opportunity to visit housing innovations abroad which put intergenerational connectedness at the centre of their design.

Building social connections: Multi-unit housing design toolkit

This Canadian toolkit, published by Happy Cities and Hey Neighbour Collective, presents design opportunities to nurture social wellbeing in housing for people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, household sizes, and incomes.

Bringing Generations Together: Unlocking Community Wellbeing with InCommon

In this Housing report, Lois Beech, Consultancy and Partnerships Manager and Darius Ghadiali, Senior Data Analyst at Housing LIN, evaluate InCommon's online platform and the social impact of their intergenerational activities.

Building Healthy Communities through Intergenerational Integrated Housing Practices

Written by Charlotte Miller, Co-Founder of Intergenerational England, this Housing LIN guest blog discusses the advocacy for intergenerational housing to be firmly in the mix of any government strategy.

Housing to span the generations: A 21st Century Almshouse for Bristol

This Housing LIN Viewpoint (No 105), written by writer and co-founder of the Age Action Alliance, Tony Watts describes a “21st Century Almshouse for Bristol” that may offer a way forward for intergenerational housing.

A mixed age, intergenerational living model of extra care housing in Leicester

This Housing LIN Case Study (No. 164) features an extra care housing scheme whereby the tenants are a mix of working-age adults with a care and support needs as well as older adults.

New Housing LIN guest blog reflects relational care and intergenerational housing

In this Housing LIN guest blog, Jenny Kartupelis MBE, author and Director of Faith in Society, reflects on her evidence about the nature of good practices that facilitate relational care and advocates the creation of intergenerational models as an approach that enables older people to contribute to their communities.

Melfield Gardens, Lewisham - an intergenerational housing scheme for older people and students, designed to a Passivhaus standard

This Housing LIN case study (no 163) explores Melfield Gardens in Lewisham. Winner of a 2021 Housing Design Awards, these 100% affordable homes for Phoenix Community Housing combine intergenerational living with HAPPI principles whilst targeting a highly sustainable Passivhaus standard.

Regenerating Affordable and Enabling Housing for All Ages— at Scale

This case study, published by AARP, showcases Clarion’s age-friendly strategy to over comes the needs and challenges associated with population ageing and changing preferences.

If not now, when? The opportunity for intergenerational living in town centres has never been greater

This Housing LIN guest blog, written by Matter Architecture's Roland Karthaus and United for All Ages' Stephen Burke, considers places of social and economic exchange, such as town centres.

Older People Should Make Informed Decisions on Their Ageing Journey

In this new guest blog for the Housing LIN, Two Generation’s Priscilla Yeung explores how homesharing and other intergenerational housing options from the ground-up shape the UK's ageing care.

Stockpiling Space: How the pandemic has increased housing inequalities between older and younger generations

This research from the Intergenerational Foundations states that COVID-19 has exacerbated housing inequalities between the young and the old.

Move or improve?

To coincide with National #IntegenerationalWeek, this new guest blog by Laura Wigzell at Motionspot’s Fine & Able, offers her insights into how people are beginning to think further ahead and reassess their housing priorities and future-proof their options for later life, including multi-generational housing.

HDRC Intergenerational Webinar 26/01/21 - Best practice in running intergenerational programmes

This webinar explored different intergenerational programmes available to people living with dementia in accommodation and care settings in the UK and the successes, challenges, barriers and sustainability issues facing such programmes as well as the impact on people living with dementia and the children/students that take part.

In good company: the need for Homeshare and intergenerational living has never been greater

This Housing LIN guest blog by Share and Care Homeshare demonstrates the positive role intergenerational living has had since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as an attractive housing solution for older householders looking for company and support, as well as for younger homesharers looking for a home.

A hallmark for naturally occurring intergenerational living - Hanham Hall, South Gloucestershire

This Housing LIN Case Study (No 160) captures the key design characteristics of the award-wining Hanham Hall, outside Bristol.

An A-Z of Intergenerational / cohousing developments

As part of our thinking on CollaborAGE, we have created this A to Z of intergenerational developments and cohousing schemes in the UK where one of the words in the scheme name begins with a letter of the alphabet. The list of 26 schemes is purely meant as a bit of light-hearted fun in these difficult times. We welcome your suggestions, especially any schemes that have a Q or Z at the beginning of the name of the scheme!

Sustaining intergenerational connections at a time of crisis

With Covid-19 in mind, this report by InCommon for Clarion tells stories of resilience, adaptability and hope from people from all ages at a time when we need them most.

Social connection in the COVID-19 crisis

This report from the APPG on Social Integration presents initial findings from part one of the Inquiry and is about understanding the issues and sharing good practice in relation to social connectedness.

Vision 2020: Flexible retirement and the rise of rental models

As part of our ongoing series about future trends in housing in the 2020s, Eleanor McCallum, Pozzoni Architecture, writes for the Housing LIN about opportunities for intergenerational living in the private rented sector.

Pioneer Intergenerational Co-Housing – The Cockaigne Houses in Hatfield

Housing LIN viewpoint 99 looks at the Cockaigne houses in Hatfield and reflects on what lessons we can draw from the scheme.

Intergenerational Housing

In our latest Housing LIN guest blog Jenny Buterchi, of PRP, writes about how intergenerational housing can help to meet the rising demand for housing for older people and place older people at the heart of our communities.

Together in the 2020s: twenty ideas for creating a Britain for all ages by 2030

This new report by United for All Ages highlights twenty radical ways to create ‘a country for all ages’ by 2030, countering ageism, loneliness and poor health, care, learning and housing in divided Britain.

Shared perspectives on cohousing – codesigning community

This Housing LIN blog by Jan Chadwick, K1 Cohousing, Marmalade Lane, Cambridge, and Meredith Bowles, Mole Architects share their views on codesigning community at this award winning development.

Creating a Britain for all ages

In our newest Housing LIN guest blog, Stephen Burke of United for All Ages outlines his vision for a fairer society.

A design for later life – senior living and intergenerational communities

Our latest Housing LIN guest blog describes a new intergenerational living development in Manchester from Pozzoni Architecture.

Designing Intergenerational Communities

This report by the Gensler Research Institute in America brings together a series of designs and tools around a concept of ‘Boom Town’ for changing the built environment to expand opportunities for existing community members and encourage intergenerational living and connections.

Intergenerational Learning in Practice: Together Old and Young

This academic book published by Routledge includes a chapter feature the work of St Monica’s Trust and their involvement at their Cote Lane Retirement Village in Bristol on Channel Four’s series shown in 2017, ‘Old People’s Homes for 4 Year Olds’.

Creating independent homes for people developing or living with cognitive conditions in East Manchester

This Housing LIN case study looks at a new development in Manchester for people with cognitive conditions.

Rethinking intergenerational housing

Matter Architecture has been working with a grant from Innovate UK to rethink intergenerational housing: an old idea that is being rediscovered for its social benefits.

Supported Independent Living: Communal and Intergenerational living in the Netherlands and Denmark

This report by Gita Prasad (co-chair of the Housing LIN Eastern region) is about the needs and aspirations of older people, living in communities, in later life.

Communal and intergenerational living in the Netherlands and Denmark

In this blog Gita Prasad explores by Gita Prasad the needs and aspirations of older people, living in communities, in later life.

Ageing, fast and slow: When place and demography collide

This report by the Resolution Foundation describes differences in ageing by geography, with some places getting older and some getting younger.

Fortifying futures: how older boomerangers in English multigenerational households boost resilience through social capital accumulation and distribution

This research paper from the Sheffield Hallam University explore the links between theories of social capital and the concept of family resilience and how this interfaces with an understanding of what a multigenerational home means from a housing context.

Review of key mechanisms in intergenerational practices, and their effectiveness at reducing loneliness/social isolation

This Uni of Sheffield review commissioned by the Welsh Government, takes a look at the key mechanisms in intergenerational practices, and their effectiveness at reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Town Centre Living: A Caring Place - Intergenerational housing case studies

This report from the Housing LIN for Architecture & Design Scotland, provides a digest of 12 case studies of intergenerational housing drawn from the UK and internationally.

Our future financial lives: The intergenerational impact of an ageing population

This report looks at the ageing population and the impact it's likely to have on the relationship between the elderly and their families.

Cross Generational Housing

The research entities in this project have been designed to explore the chosen subject area that is cross generational housing.

The Best of Both Worlds: A Closer Look at Creating Spaces that Connect Young and Old

A new report from Generations United and the Eisner Foundation on intergenerational living.

Healing the Generational Divide

The interim report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration

Tackling intergenerational unfairness

A report from The House of Lords Committee on Intergenerational Fairness and Provision

Bridging the loneliness gap – how bringing the generations together benefits both

By incorporating intergenerational practice into what we do, we reinforce our communities as ageless spaces, where relationships can develop and loneliness can fade.

Multigenerational living: an opportunity for UK house builders?

This report analyses recent evidence on the scale and character of multigenerational households in the UK.

Intergenerational Living - a new way of living the old way

Intergenerational living is nothing new - What is new is society’s recent obsession with segregating people by age.

The Next Generation: How Intergenerational Interaction Improves Life Chances of Children and Young People

This report from United for All Ages shows how greater interaction between older and young people can help tackle crises facing children and young people and counter ageism in divided Britain.

Learning from intergenerational housing projects in the USA – Part 2

Emma Garland looks at what we can learn from the diverse intergenerational models in the USA.

Intergenerational co-design for age friendly places

A new publication from Mobility, Mood and Place, which looks at creating age friendly places.

Learning from Intergenerational Housing Projects in the USA

This report by Emma Garland, a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Traveling Fellow outlines the findings of her Fellowship looking at intergenerational housing in the USA.

Futurology: The new home in 2050

This report, written by Studio Partington, provides an insight into the housing trends we are likely to see, 30 years or more into the future.

All in Together: Creating a place where young and old thrive

This report derives from a study of 105 shared sites in the USA that promote intergenerational activity and living. The majority of respondents found that this bonding improved attitudes towards generations and supports health and development.

A new generational contract: The final report of the Intergenerational Commission

This report coming from the Resolution Foundation presents analysis on the intergenerational challenges the UK faces and sets out a policy programme to tackle them.

Dutch students get cheap accommodation from living in care homes for the elderly

In this video from the World Economic Forum, Dutch students are shown to be living with and giving their time to older people in return for cheap accommodation.

Mixing matters: how shared sites can bring older and younger people together and unite Brexit Britain

This paper from United for All Ages, aims to promote developments in intergenerational living whilst also shares ideas and practical solutions to inspire further action to bring older and young people together.

Intergenerational Seniors Residence in the Netherlands

A video from Humanitas, a social service and community building organisation from the Netherlands, featuring a project that provides free accommodation for students who in return are required to spend time with their older co-residents.

Multigenerational living: an opportunity for UK house builders?

A report from the NHBC Foundation analysing recent evidence on the scale and character of multigenerational households in the UK, also giving insights from those who have experienced this lifestyle.

Intergen volunteers compliation video

This video by From Generation to Generation focuses on their Intergen programme and enables viewers to see how much their volunteers enjoy being part of it. All From Generation to Generation our...

Humanitas Retirement Home - Jurrien Mentink's story

The Age of No Retirement movement shares a story about 'Humanitas', an intergenerational Retirement Home where students live wall to wall with its older residents.

Regenerating the Aylesbury: Inter-generational urban extra care housing

This Housing LIN Case Study no 126 focuses on a challenging intergenerational mix of housing on the Aylesbury Estate, Walworth, in south London, that requires progressive levels of privacy across shared...

Designing with Downsizers: The next generation of 'downsizer homes' for an active third age

This report from The University of Sheffield DWELL Project (Designing for Wellbeing in Environments for Later Life) captures some of the findings from a three year research project co-produced with...

Generations Apart: The growth of age segregation in England and Wales

This report was developed by Legal & General and the Intergenerational Foundation and warns that growing age segregation imposes a range of costs on our society. In response to this IF and L&G...

Multi-Generational Homes: Building a Community for all Ages

This Housing LIN Case Study no 116 features the award winning development, Castlemaine Court, in Byfleet, Surrey. Designed by Archadia architects for Crown Simmons Housing, it offers affordable, fully...

Continuing Care Neighbourhoods: neighbourhoods that continually care

This Housing LIN Viewpoint no 73 argues that all of our residential neighbourhoods and communities - urban, suburban and rural - need to be considered as 'continuing care neighbourhoods', which are intergenerational,...

Extra care health impact assessment - Tan y Fron, Llandudno

This paper by the Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit reviewed the health impact on the wider community of a proposed extra care housing scheme being developed by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association,...

Bricks, Mortar and Policy Perspectives for Intergenerational Living

This Housing LIN Viewpoint no 74 is based on research published in "Bricks and Mortar Across Generations: A Think Piece on Intergenerational Living in the United Kingdom" in March 2015, and presented...

From generation 2 generation

This website, created in September 2015, seeks to create sustainable programmes to help young and old people come together to share time, have fun, learn from and value each other.

Hoarding of Housing - The intergenerational crisis in the housing market

Published by the Intergenerational Foundation (IF), this report discusses the intergenerational tensions around the use of housing in England. IF believes that a debate should be held over how we use...