Brits face housing dilemma
Leading British housing providers have joined to call for more to be done for older people amid the country’s ageing population. Britain’s National Planning Policy Framework has been criticised for “not going far enough” to address the housing and care needs of the country’s ageing population.
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Leading British housing providers have joined to call for more to be done for older people amid the country’s ageing population.
Britain’s National Planning Policy Framework has been criticised for “not going far enough” to address the housing and care needs of the country’s ageing population.
Some local councils have also been accused of reportedly not planning properly for the needs of older people as research shows less than half of councils have housing strategies in place for older people.
The recommendations companies believe should be included within the Framework include making planning for demographic change central to the document and calls for the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Older People to help raise issues regarding older people.
“[The government’s] overall approach to the Framework does not go far enough to deliver the sea change in policy that is required to build more specialist housing for older people,” UK housing specialist, Howard Phillips, says.
“If we are serious about providing suitable housing for older people to live in while addressing their care and support needs, it is vital the government looks at making these changes,” he adds.
Another UK housing specialist, Jane Ashcroft, says there is a wealth of evidence demonstrating the relationships between appropriate housing and health in old age.
“More must be done to ensure people are able to enjoy their later years in homes which meet their needs.
“At the moment, developers are in limbo and this cannot continue if we are to tackle the housing crisis we are facing. The time for action has come for us to see viable plans are implemented to house the nation. The alternative is a crisis which will freeze the house-building sector and cripple UK growth. We must recognise that for our country to prosper we need to see change.”
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