Comment on first meeting of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce

By Nick Sedgwick · 30 May 2023

We welcome the launch of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce with its first meeting on 16 May 2023. The government appointed taskforce will ensure the housing market works for older people and gives them greater choice in where they choose to live.

Previously, housing for older people has lacked this emphasis in national and local policy despite the recognised benefits for residents, the wider housing market and health and social care services.

It’s good to see that one of the sub-groups will focus on older people’s priorities because this must be the basis for all the work of the taskforce. There will be an emphasis on the future models of housing and services to respond to these identified priorities. However, the taskforce should also consider the existing supply. Many existing schemes were built 40 or 50 years ago when the needs and expectations of older people were very different. There should be greater understanding of how this housing can better respond to the range of priorities.

ARK has many years of experience and an established structured approach to review this existing supply of housing for older people, giving providers options for their assets and the services. To find out more contact Nick Sedgwick, Associate Director at nsedgwick@arkconsultancy.co.uk or call 0121 5153831.