HCA told to fund more homes for elderly

The report for the government by the Housing Our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation says the Homes and Communities Agency should also consider building more homes for older people on sites it owns.

It says councils could ask for more housing for older people, instead of some general needs social housing, through planning agreements.

The HAPPI group, made up of architects, house builders, housing associations and academics, says the HCA should put more emphasis on housing for older people when distributing its funds.

It says the agency should pilot innovative approaches to design, construction and management of housing for older people. And suggests it should also promote ‘self help’ and mutual ownership housing schemes like co-housing.

The report also recommends that housing providers should look at mixed tenure housing for older people, including those selling a home, and that institutional investors, like pension funds, should consider investing in housing schemes for older people.

Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the HCA, said: ‘We will be looking closely at the recommendations the panel has made and will work with our partners to take some steps to address these.’

Communities minister Lord McKenzie added: ‘We need to be leaders in providing homes that will adapt to our needs as we age, giving us more choice about how and where we live as we grow older.’

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