building standards

This article reminds me of some research carried out for the Scottish Government on housing for older people back in 2008. The research considered the policy implications of incrementally adding to the accessible rural housing stock over coming decades (from designs that facilitate access, to building standards and forward planning invest to save). Eight years on, this article reveals in England less than 10% of local authorities have plans for the accessible housing demands of local people. Information obtained by freedom of information requests returned by 266 councils (82% of English local authorities) asked if councils had planning policies to build to the accessible Lifetime Homes standard and, if they did, how many homes have been built in the last six years. Since 2004, the London Plan under successive mayoral administrations has regulated to ensure all homes are built to the Lifetime Homes standard, with 10% to higher wheelchair accessible standards. However, when they are all included the figure is just 8.2% of councils with robust accessible housing plans. Despite the trend Local Authorities in Leeds, Reading, Sevenoaks, Leicester, Peterborough and Eastleigh are cited as providing a strong example to others of what can be done within long-term planning frameworks. The government’s new higher accessible housing standard, Part M Category 2, is broadly equivalent to Lifetime Homes and features in the building regulations as an optional standard. Local authorities have a duty to produce a local plan setting out their approach to new development by 2017. With much work to do on these plans, Habinteg is campaigning for local authorities to make the optional Category 2 their default housing standard. Habinteg chief executive, Paul Gamble, said: “It’s time that all local authorities follow London’s lead to meet the inclusive housing needs of local people. With many councils yet to formalise their local plans ahead of next year’s deadline, there’s a clear opportunity to address the significant shortage of accessible homes to rent and buy nationwide and meet projected demand.”  With 1.8 million disabled people across the country having an accessible housing need and just 7% of homes in England fully accessible, what can be done to address the current national housing shortage and meet future demand?