The Lifetime Homes concept has been around for quite a while now, and
I'm wondering if the government has been watching it's progress as part
of the 'London Plan', using as it does a percentage system whereby new
homes are built as 100% lifetime homes compliant with 10% of these being
wheelchair accessible.

I've been trying to build it into policy here for some years now, and
the general concensus is that if it is enforced through Building
Regulations it would be more effective than putting it into housing
policies. 

I'm all too aware of the building industry not wanting the 16 points
built into home and I would be concerned about the plaintive:

"All new social housing built from 2011 will have to be built to the new
"lifetime homes" standard, and the hope is that private sector houses
will also meet it." (BBC's website)

It is also disappointing that it is mentioned only in regards to elderly
people, when we all know the benefit that such building criteria would
extend to others. Essentially the building industry do not want us to
stay put in one house, they want us to move around buying new housing as
our needs change.

I do believe the way forward would be to enhance the Building
Regulations in order to incorporate the 16 points of the Lifetime Homes
concept. If it is the regulatory way housing is built then there are
fewer loopholes or exemptions.

Rob

_______________________________________________
Rob Bracewell BA (Hons)
Access Officer,
Forward Planning Team,
Planning Services,
Lancaster City Council,
Palatine Hall,
Dalton Square,
Lancaster,
LA1 1PW
Tel. & Minicom. 01524 582372 (please use announcer)
Mob. 07820736997
Fax. 01524 582322


-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Brian Towers
Sent: 25 February 2008 10:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACCESSIBUILT] Age friendly housing

Marcus

It appears to be a slight extension of the Part M stuff.

Level entrances, wheelchair turning space, ground floor WC, wider stair
to take a stair lift! Hopefully, larger bathrooms and WCs.

I'll see what else there is.


Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Marcus Ormerod
Sent: 25 February 2008 09:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Age friendly housing

Hi everyone

there seems to be a news article this morning about UK government
suggesting we should have age-friendly housing - apart from this being a
deja vu experience does anyone know any detail about what legislation or
regulation there are actually proposing. Or is this just the government
trying to deflect the media spotlight off them?

The BBC news item is at the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7260000/newsid_7262100/7262120.s
tm?b
w=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Professor Marcus Ormerod
SURFACE Inclusive Design Research Centre SOBE, The University of Salford
4th Floor Maxwell Building Salford
M5 4WT
Tel (0)161 295 5405
Fax (0)161 295 5011
Mobile 07887 556425
www.surface.salford.ac.uk

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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
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