“To tackle the shortage of suitable homes for older and disabled people, councils need greater planning powers and resources to hold developers to account, ensuring that they build the right homes in the right places needed by different groups within the local community."
Responding to the launch of a new coalition to campaign for accessible homes, Cllr Darren Rodwell, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesperson, said:
“To tackle the shortage of suitable homes for older and disabled people, councils need greater planning powers and resources to hold developers to account, ensuring that they build the right homes in the right places needed by different groups within the local community.
“Accessibility features and home adaptations are also vital to help keep people safe and independent in their homes and prevent avoidable admissions to hospital and care homes. Every £1 spent on housing adaptations are worth more than £2 in care savings and quality of life gains.
“As well as funding and powers to kick-start a renaissance in council house building, such as through reform to the Right to Buy scheme, the Disability Facilities Grant needs to be fully funded to keep up with demand, while we also need to see a long-term sustainable funding solution for adult social care.”