A report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People has revealed that 87% of councils do not have enough specialist housing to meet the need of England’s aging population.
Following an inquiry into specialist housing for older people, chaired by Lord Richard Best, the APPG’s report found that the number of people aged over 65 will reach 19 million by 2050, up from 10 million in 2020.
It also found that just 5,000 to 7,000 homes for older people are completed each year, far below the 50,000 cited as necessary to meet demand in the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, published in November 2024.
The APPG is calling on government to support the development of new intergenerational communities, which it claimed would not only help meet demand, but also reduce loneliness and support greater wellbeing.
The report, sponsored by housing associations Places for People and The Riverside Group, sets out 50 recommendations for the government, Homes England and the industry to help meet demand and build more intergenerational communities.
In its recommendations to the Ministry of Housing, the APPG called for a recognition of mainstream and specialist housing for older people in the forthcoming National Housing Strategy, as well as the National Planning Policy Framework.
Other recommendations include increasing Homes England and Greater London Authority funding, and making it a requirement for councils to masterplan more accessible, adaptable later‑living homes in all major developments.
“The way we build homes today is too often driving generations apart and that has real costs for all of us, young and old alike,” said Best, a crossbench member of the House of Lords with a special interest in housing issues.
“This inquiry shows it doesn’t have to be this way. Where developers and planners have the vision to create genuinely intergenerational communities, the results are remarkable: mutual help with everyday activities, reduced loneliness, savings for health and care budgets and more rewarding lives for all.
“We are calling on mainstream housebuilders, social housing providers and planners to embrace this opportunity. Building homes that work for all ages isn’t just good for older people. It adds value to every community, for every generation.”
Rachel Crownshaw, group managing director of communities at Places for People, added: “A home is more than a building – it’s the community around it. Strong social connections and supportive neighbourhoods are proven to improve health, wellbeing and longevity.
“Places for People’s focus on intergenerational places ensures people can stay rooted in their communities for longer, living happier, healthier and more independent lives.
“With planning reform now moving forward and greater funding certainty, we have a generational chance to accelerate social and affordable housing, including the later‑living homes our ageing population needs. Policymakers, housebuilders and providers must use this moment to create truly intergenerational communities with real housing choice.”
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