Proportion Of Accessible New Homes Being Built ‘Now Falling’

Despite the fact that there are 14.1 million disabled people in the UK and the fact that we have a rapidly ageing population, just nine per cent of homes in England currently provide basic accessibility features – and analysis of 324 English local plans for the next decade shows that this looks unlikely to improve.

The investigation, carried out by Habinteg Housing Association, has found that in the next ten years, 70 per cent of all new builds won’t have to meet any accessible housing standards, with the proportion of new homes due to be built by 2030 in accordance with accessibility fell from 34.4 per cent in 2019 to 31.5 per cent in 2020.

It was also found that 52.5 per cent of local authorities around the country are still failing to set appropriate requirements for such standards in new homes, despite the government’s National Planning Policy Framework and Guidance, which requires planning authorities to use the Building Regulations Optional Standards when setting out such policies.

Nicholas Bungay, director of strategy and external affairs with Habinteg, said: “his forecast clearly shows that the system we have right now isn’t going to provide the number of accessible homes that our communities desperately need.

“Disabled and older people should not have to ‘make do’ at the expense of their independence and wellbeing. If we fail to get this right now we’ll be storing up a whole new kind of housing crisis for the future.”

If you need any help or advice relating to making homes accessible and the features available, such as half height shower doors and other such adaptations, get in touch with Practical Bathing today.