Charity welcomes housing plans

27/02/2008

Government plans to make all new homes suitable for the elderly should result in the nation's housing stock gradually becoming fit for purpose, according to a charity.

As part of a national strategy for coping with the housing needs of an ageing population, all new residential properties will have to be built to the Lifetime Homes standard by 2013.

Among the design features house builders will have to include are downstairs bathrooms, bigger staircases to allow stair lifts to be fitted and doors wide enough for wheelchair access.

Help the Aged has been campaigning for change and the charity's head of public affairs Mervyn Kohler told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he welcomed the move to make the country's housing "age-proof".

"An ordinary house [will have to be] set up so that it can be used adequately by an older person, so that an older person can maintain their independent lifestyle living in that house," said Mr Kohler.

He added that having enough houses that can be easily converted to meet the needs of the elderly would become increasingly important as the population grows.