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Housing our Ageing Population

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There is a distinct and urgent need to provide a better range of housing options to meet the wide variety of housing circumstances, aspirations and needs of people as they age.

Society is ageing and more people require housing that meets their needs as they age. Between 2014 and 2039, over 70 per cent of projected household growth will be made up of households with someone aged 60 or older.

Given the scale of demographic change and the centrality of this growing older population to many aspects of housing, health and care policy, there is an opportunity for the Government to set out to comprehensively address the housing needs of an ageing population for England, through working with and supporting councils and other stakeholders.

Integrated action in the fields of housing and planning can align with some of the most important policy areas currently challenging national and local government – how to reform and integrate the NHS, social care and public health in the context of population ageing, and how to increase housing supply delivery and build more resilient and healthy neighbourhoods.

Councils play a significant place making role in shaping the current and future supply of housing in their areas. With an ageing population, older people are now key players in the wider housing market.

Written by Ian Copeman and Lois Beech from the Housing LIN, the report captures the learning from a selection of exemplar councils which demonstrate how they are playing a significant place-making role in shaping the current and future supply of housing for an ageing population in their areas. 

The 8 councils under the spotlight in this new LGA resource include: 

  • Bristol City Council
  • Central Bedfordshire Council
  • Gloucestershire County Council and partners
  • Kirklees Council
  • Leicestershire County Council
  • Southampton City Council
  • Swindon Borough Council
  • and Telford & Wrekin Council

Ian Copeman, Housing LIN Business Director, commented: 

"We are delighted to have worked with the LGA to produce the new version of Housing our ageing population. This new publication comes at an opportune time, particularly in the context of the Government’s anticipated Housing Transformation Fund. Councils are well placed to exercise local leadership and take a strategic approach to enhance the housing and lifestyle choices for people in later life - the case studies in this report demonstrate how councils are playing a significant place-making role in shaping the current and future supply of housing for an ageing population in their areas."