Habinteg calls for future proofing investment in housebuilding

Published by Max Salsbury for Habinteg Housing Association in Housing

Commenting on today’s announcement from No.10 on housebuilding, Paul Gamble, Chief Executive of Habinteg said:

“We know from the amount of demand we have for Habinteg’s wheelchair accessible properties just how hard it is for many disabled people to find suitable affordable accommodation.

As the UK’s population ages we know that accessibility and flexibility in housing design will become an ever more important  issue and could make all the difference to the long term impact of this welcome injection of effort and resources.

Future-proofing the investment is critical if we are to get best value for money. We would urge all planning authorities involved to apply the Lifetime Homes Standard to all new development with 10% of properties designed to full wheelchair accessible standards.

The London Paralympics venues and events are demonstrating what can be achieved once access standards are adopted as part of a common sense design approach, and the new housing package is an opportunity not to be missed in pursuing more inclusive standards in housing design.”

Ends.

For more information contact: Alex Perry, Senior Communications Officer, Habinteg: aperry@habinteg.org.uk / 020 7822 8729

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