subject: New Homes To Be Designed To Cater For An Ageing Population [print this page] The government has set the ball rolling for all houses to meet specific building standards that cater for an ageing population. What does this mean for the average home buyer? Are we going to all be living in similar looking houses as the building standards become law?
What is being proposed
Well the term 'lifetime homes' is becoming a common term used in this debate, the government has thrown down the gauntlet for builders to show signs of adopting the standards they propose by 2010 and after careful monitoring if these new standards are not being met then they are planning to make the new building standards compulsory across the building industry by 1013. Initially the plans are aimed at the social housing sector but there is a great possibility that they will be rolled out across the private sector soon after.
What will be different about 'lifetime houses'?
The new lifetime houses will meet a series of standards that include 16 features that the houses must incorporate in order to make them accessible and flexible. The list includes level pathway access to the front and back door, wider interior hallways and doors (that allow enough turning space for a wheel chair or pushchair), Easy open windows with accessible low window sill and plug sockets at a convenient height to reach easily. The key parts of the new specifications include making sure that; handrails and stairways are ready to support disability aids such as stair lifts and hoists for when occupants reach old age.
From an external appearance the houses will remain the same but things like internal layout such as having a downstairs bathroom in each house and the widened doors and hallways may not appeal to the younger market. The argument here is that these houses by having wider doors & hallways and no steps to enter the house also meet the requirements of the younger home buyers who have children to keep safe and push chairs to manoeuvre in the house.
The conservatives suggest that there will be an increase in one level houses such as bungalows that are easily adaptable for the requirements of the elderly and often have a garden.
There are also plans to look at developing whole elderly communities (lifetime neighbourhoods) with improved kerbs, street lighting, more public toilets & more bus stops.
How will all this help
The government has been looking to the future noting that the elderly will account for 48 percent of the total number of households in 2026. This new industry shake up will mean that people can live in their own homes for much longer and independent living will increase as people get older if their houses can meet their growing needs into old age.
What will this cost
An initial saving of 5.5 billion over 60 years to the tax payer not having to fork out for expensive modification to be made to elderly housing to meet their needs. It is believed that these modifications would increase the initial outlay on a property by an extra 300 pounds to buy but will out way the potential costs of adapting a house at a later date.
