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Planning Homes and Communities for Older People

With the government announcing an Older People’s Housing Task Force to boost the supply of housing for older, and a particular focus on ‘place shaping’ for age-friendly homes and communities, the resources on this dedicated portal provide the planning policy background for planning applications for specialist housing for older people.

Divided into twelve key topics, they cover national and local planning issues relating to the full spectrum of specialist housing for older people ranging from small scale extra care housing developments to retirement villages.

Key Planning Subjects

National Level Guidance

An up-to-date account of planning guidance in England with reference to housing for older people.

SHOP

The Strategic Housing for Older People Assessment Tool (SHOP@) helps forecast the demand for specialist housing locally.

Plans & Planning Documents

Some authorities are issuing Supplementary Planning Documents on Extra Care Housing or make reference to housing for older people in the Strategic Housing Market Assessments.

Use Class Issues

The issue of the Use Class of specialist housing for older people, definititions and further documentation.

Appeal Decision

Examples of appeal decisions which set out consideration of specialist housing / care developments.

S106 & CIL

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is gradually being phased in by many Local Authorities in England. S1016 and CIL is outlined in more detail here.

Obligations & CIL

This page provides information on the obligations under the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Planning Strategies & Identifying Needs

Useful strategies and publications to support a planning application.

Health & Wellbeing

Planning healthy living environments for people of all ages, case studies and reports.

Planning Benefits & Addressing Concerns

Explore the benefits of specialised housing for older people in order to support planning applications.

Useful Publications

Useful materials, including Housing LIN case studies and viewpoints, which set out the wider context of housing the ageing population:

Further Information

Further information regarding developments and the planning issues surrounding specialist housing for older people.

Key resources

Reforms to national planning policy

A Levelling Up, Housing and Communities House of Commons Committee report finds that the Government's reforms of national planning policy caused uncertainty for local authorities and planners, delayed local plans, and slowed new housebuilding.

Planning for Retirement: How retirement communities can help meet the needs of an ageing population

This report by the County Councils Network an ARCO argues that councils and providers should be given the tools by government to incentivise and accelerate these developments as research shows that residents in these developments spend up to 12 days less on average in hospital due to unplanned accidents compared to those in regular housing.

Planning Inspector sets out the distinctive elements of Extra Care scheme resulting in C2 Use Class conclusion

This blog from Tetlow King's John Sneddon provides an analysis on the recent appeal of a PegasusLife assisted-living community development in Sidmouth, including a detailed look into the appeal inspector's findings.

National Planning Policy Framework

As reported by Public Health England (PHE), details about the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) have come under one roof and information on the impact built environments have on the health of communities.

More planning resources >

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Building on the Housing LIN’s learning and improvement ethos, we offer bespoke advice to help your organisation draw on the lessons highlighted on these pages. To find out how the Housing LIN can support your operational and/or strategic plans, please contact us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or visit our consultancy pages.