Housing an Ageing Population - Developing Guidance for Planners

A step change in the delivery of high quality housing to meet the changing needs of the UKs ageing population is urgently needed. There will be at least 5 million more people aged over 60 by 2026 (an increase of over 40% in the next 20 years). The proportion of over 85s will increase even more sharply. The chance to maintain independent living, with different levels of care support, will strongly depend on the provision of the right sort of housing in the right places. At the same time, meeting the spiralling costs of health and social service provision is a serious concern. 

Image by Viktor Kozers

Data Tool on Ageing in the UK

The Office of National Statistics has launched an interactive mapping tool which allows you to analyse the age structure of the population at the Local Authority (LA) level more easily. You can see how the population has aged over time and is projected to continue to age by selecting from a list of indicators of population ageing, such as median age, and animating the map.

Image by G & A Scholiers

RTPI Working Group

In 2004, an RTPI Working Group on the implications of an ageing population published its report which demonstrated the scale, urgency and scope of the issues involved. The report can be downloaded here.

Planning with Health and Social Services

The RTPI and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, through the Care Services Improvement Partnership at the Department for Health have since been working together to support planners to help deliver housing that meets the lifestyle choices and care and support needs of an ageing population.

Initial research and discussions demonstrated the diversity of interests, experience and delivery mechanisms involved. A consultation document was issued in December 2006. The responses are set out in the consultation report.

Good Practice Advice

The work has formed the basis for a Good Practice Note on Extra Care Housing. This complements the guidance set out in the Extra Care Housing Toolkit published by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network in October 2006.