Ellie Ames 29 August 2023

Charity calls on planners to help older people move homes

Charity calls on planners to help older people move homes image
Image: Twinsterphoto / Shutterstock.com

Planning authorities should be more responsive to local and personal circumstances to help older people who are ‘trapped’ in their current homes, according to a new report.

Research commissioned by the Centre for Ageing Better found that one in five people aged 55 and above were actively seeking to move but could not find suitable properties.

At least two million people aged over 55 live in homes that fail the minimum Decent Homes Standard, the charity said.

The Centre for Ageing Better said it aimed to challenge the ‘flawed orthodoxy’ that incentives to downsize and retirement villages are the only housing solutions for older people.

The charity’s CEO, Dr Carole Easton, said: ‘Instead, we need planning and housing to focus more on older people’s needs and deliver the right properties in the right locations and at the right price to give older people greater options than are available now to where and how they live.

‘The challenge for policy makers and planners is how to identify the specific barriers and opportunities that particular people face when attempting to rightsize as they grow older.

‘Planning interventions and housing strategies need to be built upon a better understanding of these needs and wants, gained through direct engagement and coupled with localised data, if we are to end this house-moving bottleneck currently experienced by older people.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 - £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay award pending)
Do you have a real passion for helping families to make positive changes for themselves and their children? This might be the right role for you!   WH Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Clerical Officer Receptionist

Durham County Council
Grade 3 £24,404 - £25,183 Pro Rata to hours worked Pay award pending
WHAT IS INVOLVED? We are looking to appoint a part time Clerical officer/Receptionist within Business Services to provide a professional, effective a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administration Assistant

Durham County Council
£25,584 - £27,711 pro rata
Administration Assistant Grade 5    £25,584 - £27,711 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31 December 2025 37 hours per week, Te Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Support Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,027 pro rata
Support Assistant Grade 1 £24,027 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31st October 2026 Part Time, 32.5 hours Mon - Fri 9am -4pm Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lecturer in Foundation Learning -Maths, English and Digital

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £34,314 - £37,938 pro rata for part-time term time working PAY AWARD PENDING
The DurhamLearn Foundation Learning programme area delivers Digital Skills, English and Maths Functional Skills.   An opportunity has arisen for a Lec Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner