To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have a policy requiring that some or all homes in their area should be built to Lifetime Homes Standards, or to a comparable standard; and if he will make a statement.
Answered on
20 October 2014
Survey work undertaken to support the Housing Standards Review impact assessment indicates that around 42% of local authorities in England have a plan policy requiring compliance of all or some of new housing development with Lifetme Homes Standards. The same survey indicates that a further 34% have a policy encouraging (but not mandating) compliance. As a result of the Housing Standards Review the Govenment is proposing to introduce an optional requirement in to the Building Regulations similar to the Lifetime Home Standard, and to enable authorities to chose when to apply this. This will ensure that older and disabled people can have a choice of housing that meets their needs.
The proposed new standard has been developed in concert with accessibility and disability groups, and is an improvement on current lifetime home standards, not least by reducing the regulatory cost which would otherwise force up the cost of housing. For example, our Impact assessment has estimated a £521 cost under the new optional standard for a 3 bedroom home; this compares with a £1,097 cost under the existing standard.