“With greater planning powers and resources to hold developers to account in the Budget, councils can ensure the right homes are built in the right places with the required infrastructure needed by different groups within local communities."
Responding to a report by the Centre for Ageing Better and Care & Repair, Home and dry – The need for decent homes in later life, which has found that over two million over-55s are living in a home that endangers their health or wellbeing, Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesman, said:
“Councils are working hard to meet the housing needs of older people, including working with developers to offer suitably designed, safe and affordable specialist housing.
“With greater planning powers and resources to hold developers to account in the Budget, councils can ensure the right homes are built in the right places with the required infrastructure needed by different groups within local communities.
“The majority of older people will live in existing housing. The Government should continue to invest in supporting the adaptation of homes to meet the needs of people as their circumstances change, making sure homes are warm and hazard-free, to keep older people safe and independent in their homes and prevent avoidable admissions to hospital and care homes.
“For councils to be able to do more, the Disabled Facilities Grant should be fully funded to keep pace with future demand and be easier for people to access.”