Housing Corporation News Release

2 April 2008              26/08

Plans to address the housing needs of an ageing population outlined in new Housing Corporation  Strategy

Plans to address the housing needs of an ageing population are outlined in a new Housing Corporation strategy launched today (Wednesday 2 April 2008)

Over the next 30 years, the population of people in England aged 65 years or more is projected to increase by 70% from 9.7 million to 16.5 million. The number of people aged 85 or older will increase by 149%.

Investing in Lifetimes reinforces the messages in the government’s strategy Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods.

Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government said, “ The majority of older people in social housing live in general needs housing stock which can prove difficult to adapt as we age and our experiences and needs change. This is one of the reasons behind our recent Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society, which considers how we can best support the needs of an ageing population. I warmly welcome the Corporation’s encouragement of all associations to consider how they will meet the needs of their current and future residents as they age.”

The strategy also aims to allocate a proportion of the annual capital funding programme to housing that benefits older people. And the Corporation has provided £125m of capital funding for specialist housing for older people as part of the first round of funding from the 2008-11 NAHP.

The Corporation will also identify and promote best practice models and new ideas for the provision of housing, care and support for older people.

Housing Corporation Chairman, Peter Dixon said, "The Housing Corporation has consistently encouraged housing associations to take a role in enabling independence, choice and control at home for older people, supporting their needs with coherent preventative services, including information, advice and advocacy and housing options.

This strategy statement is a continuation of this approach and is an important  contribution in shaping policy and delivery for the future, providing a strong foundation and legacy on which the Homes and Communities Agency and Oftenant can build."

Ends.

For more press information please contact: Sandra White on 0207 393 2094

Notes to editors:

1)The Housing Corporation is responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England. 

2)The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8.4 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 is funding 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these are for affordable rent, and 35,000 are for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.

3) The Corporation announced £3.3 billion allocations on 26 February 2008. This is 38% of the NAHP 2008-11 budget of £8.4 billion across the three-year programme and includes new allocations and existing commitments which will deliver completions in 2008-11. The new allocations total £2.1 billion, including £300 million for Open Market HomeBuy and £1.8 billion for new build homes for affordable rent and affordable sale. Allocation for specialist housing for older people is £125 million, providing 1,900 homes for affordable rent and 500 homes for affordable sale.

4) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency and Office for Tenants and Social Landlords.

5) This strategy complements the Corporations housing for vulnerable people strategy Investing in Independence which is available from: www.housingcorp.gov.uk

6) Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods – A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society is available from www.communities.gov.uk