As the government confirmed plans to raise the accessibility standard today (July 29), new homes will be more accessible for elderly and disabled people.
In the consultation on raising accessibility standards for new homes, it was suggested to either stick with the current framework for accessible housing or to raise the minimum standard.
We have made a commitment to raising the bar so that people can live in their homes with the respect and safety they are entitled to.
By raising the minimum accessibility standard, all new homes will be required to have step-free access to all entrance level rooms and amenities in addition to other features that will make homes easier to adapt over time, assisting people in leading independent lives.
We have given councils more than £4.5 billion since 2010 so they can complete nearly 500,000 home adaptations.
Councils are already required by current planning regulations to take older and disabled people’s needs into account when making plans for new homes.
Because of this change, older people and people with disabilities will be able to live more independently in their own homes, have more choices and control over their lives, and be as fully able to work, socialise, and contribute to society as possible.
New homes will be “future-proofed” for future generations, saving money on moving or home adaptation costs.
Eddie Hughes, minister for housing and rough sleeping, said:
Older people and people with disabilities need homes that meet their needs and enable them to live comfortably and independently.
This consultation has made it clear that raising the accessibility standard for new homes is supported by the industry and other stakeholders as well as by those who use accessible homes.
We are moving forward with the following steps to make this a reality based on that directive.
Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) coalition co-chair Holly Holder said:
We enthusiastically applaud the government’s choice to raise the minimum accessibility standard as a step in the right direction toward addressing the severe lack of accessible and adaptable new homes in this nation.
Millions of lives could be changed by improving accessibility, but only if it is done well and with few exceptions to how the revised regulation is applied.
Higher accessibility standards benefit everyone and disadvantage no one, especially older and disabled people.
Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) coalition Co-Chair Christina McGill stated:
Over the next 20 years, as our population ages, there will be a significant increase in the demand for accessible homes.
Many of the obstacles that are currently preventing the construction of accessible homes will be eliminated by improving mandatory access standards, which will also contribute to providing everyone with homes of the proper quality.
We anticipate having more conversations with the government about the upcoming consultation phase.
To fulfil the promise of housing that is suitable and accessible for people throughout their lives, this must be done quickly and with attention to the smaller details.
Disability blogger and influencer Kerry Thompson said:
The announcement made today will improve accessibility requirements for new homes.
Being a resident of an accessible Habinteg Housing Association home myself, I can attest to their many advantages for people with disabilities.
For me, it means the difference between having a life to live and just existing. Greater independence may be possible in an accessible home.
In the long run, the accessible adaptable standard will relieve pressure on health and social care services and budgets by making adaptations more feasible and economically advantageous.
Living in an accessible home shouldn’t be considered a luxury, so I am interested to see how these changes develop.
The majority of responses were in favour of raising the minimum accessibility requirement.
A whopping 98 percent of the more than 400 responses to the consultation supported the government’s plan to increase the accessibility requirements for new homes.
The two options that mandated a higher accessibility standard were the most popular ones.
In due course, a second consultation will be held. It will go into detail about the regulatory adjustments, including revisions to statutory guidance and the instances in which the higher standard will not be applied.