Ministers Sat On Accessible Housing Research For Up To Four Years

Ministers delayed publishing a report that called for more research into the benefits of accessible housing for up to four years. The report, by architectural firm PRP, was finally published last week by the MHCLG, but none of the research and evidence referenced in the document is dated later than March 2016. Payments for the research appear to have been made as long ago as April 2016, and PRP said this week that it was finalised in 2017. The report examined evidence on the benefits of accessible housing, and the effectiveness of guidance relating to other buildings to see how well it was meeting the needs of disabled people. Read more on Disability News Service.

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/ministers-sat-on-accessible-housing-research-for-up-to-four-years/ 

Planning White Paper Ignores Accessible Housing

The government has been accused of “showing contempt” for disabled people after publishing an “utterly shameful” 84-page white paper on the future of the planning system without including a single mention of disabled people, disability or accessible housing. The Planning for the Future document makes repeated references to the need for “beautiful new homes”, “beautiful places” and “beautiful buildings”, while ignoring the accessible housing crisis. There is also no mention of wheelchair-users in the white paper, which looks only at England, even though successive Tory ministers have been repeatedly warned of the dire shortage of suitable wheelchair-accessible housing. Read more on the Disability News Service website.

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/governments-contempt-for-disabled-people-as-planning-white-paper-ignores-accessible-housing/ 

UK On Verge Of Accessible Housing Crisis

A poll of more than 4,000 UK adults shows that most people want every new home to be built in a way which is suitable for all people of all ages and abilities. The research, commissioned by the Centre for Ageing Better, further reveals that nearly three quarters (72%) of people polled by YouGov agreed that homes should, as standard, be built to be suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Nearly half (48%) disagreed that UK society does enough to support people to live at home safely and independently as we age. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/uk-on-verge-of-accessible-housing-crisis-new-survey-shows/

Builders Criticised For Lobbying Against Accessible Homes

Private housebuilders have been accused of “appalling self-interest” over their lobbying against building more accessible homes for disabled residents. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has been objecting to councils across England that wish to fix new targets to increase the number of homes with room for wheelchair users and which could be adaptable. It has made submissions to at least 17 authorities, from Liverpool to Sevenoaks, arguing that new local planning policies seeking more accessible housing could make it unprofitable to build new homes. The submissions also question whether predictions of an ageing population mean an increased demand for adaptable and accessible housing would be certain. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/28/builders-criticised-for-lobbying-against-accessible-homes

Councils face objections to accessible homes

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has launched objections against councils bidding to boost the building accessible homes. This week, 24housing reported research by Abode Impact revealing that in the private rented sector alone four in five are currently living in a home that fails to fully meet their needs as a wheelchair user, while 91% have experienced barriers to accessing the sector. HBF says councils have a responsibility to ensure housing plans are viable and not subject to a ‘blanket’ approach. Read more on 24housing.
https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/councils-face-objections-to-accessible-homes/

Chronic Lack Of Accessible Housing Prompts Inquiry

A major new inquiry will investigate the chronic lack of accessible and adaptable housing available for disabled people in Britain. Following research which found that approximately 1.8 million disabled people require suitable housing and approximately 300,000 do not have the adaptations they need in their existing homes, the Equality and Human Right Commission will investigate the provision of accessible and adaptable housing, and the effect it has on disabled people’s right to live independently. The terms of reference for the inquiry have been published today, while calls for evidence will begin in early January. The inquiry will report in early 2018. Read more on the EHRC website.

Nearly 2 Million Disabled People Have An Unmet Housing Need

A new report reveals the extent of demand for accessible homes to rent and buy.  The report says 1.8 million disabled people having an unmet housing need – 580,000 of working age. Conducted by teams at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Ipsos MORI for Habinteg and Papworth Trust, the ‘hidden housing market’ report is pitched as challenging assumptions about the potential for disabled people to buy their own home. The report also sheds light on the wider appeal of homes that deliver higher quality accessible features.  Download a copy of the report from the Habinteg website.