A new dawn for housing a more mature city

55+ Housing Communities 

After reading the latest London plan and the Westminster local plan, I wonder whether either authority have adequate regard for the oldest one sixth of the population. Twenty-first century London is about to either fail a majority of elderly or a large proportion of the elderly. Why that is, may be partly social, partly economic, partly cultural, partly ignorance. This article argues that the provision of housing for the elderly should change. For the benefit of the elderly, their children and grand children, the economy, the state, the health service, the social services, our local neighbourhoods, communities, villages, towns and cities alike. As well as for the benefit of families with school-age children, needing family size homes, now frequently occupied by senior couples and single pensioners. 

See below pdf for the following topics covered in the article

• Post-war wrong & inadequacy 
• Accessibility, mobility & e-cycling
• Look to Denmark & New Labour
• Rethinking London delivery
• Mixture of tenures
• Land requirement per borough
• Social, demographic & economic benefits
• Small household & suburban rethink needed 
• Home counties & coastal suburbia

Picture showing four floors of apartments above shop in SE16, replacing two storey inter-war restaurant building with flat above.  

Afterword

With an increasing number of single households among adults with grown up children, the post-war housing model of families in car-suburban housing neighbourhoods is not sustainable, in a society with a growing proportion of over 55 year olds. This is particularly evident throughout the British Isles, where a larger proportion of households live in car-suburban neighbourhoods than elsewhere in Europe. Where new car-suburban (typically row or semi-detaching) housing, outnumber new urban housing. Throughout most of England and Ireland, with the exception of London and maybe a handful of larger English cities.

Above, I advocate for a majority of new homes to be built in more accessible walking and bikeable urban communities – as quality apartments or mansion blocks with communal gardens – within long walking or short (e-)cycling distance of high streets and town centres. With the added benefit closer (urban) living has on mental and physical health – as well as for commercial, retail, social and leisure pursuits. Among both the over and under 55 year olds – singles, single parents, the young and childless couples included. 

• Planning in London
• 55+ Housing Communities: A new dawn for housing a more mature city (3p pdf)
• Too little, too late? Housing for an ageing population CBS | CSFI
• The Last-Time Buyer - how incentives to encourage downsizing could ease housing crisis CBS | CSFI