The need to provide housing for older people is critical. People are living longer and the proportion of older people in the population is increasing.
The 2021 census results show the population of England and Wales has continued to age. The number of people aged 65 years and over increased from 9.2 million in 2011 to over 11 million in 2021 and the proportion of people aged 65 years and over rose from 16.4% to 18.6%.
It is projected that by 2045, the number of people over the age of 65 in England and Wales will increase to 15.2 million - equivalent to 23.9% of the total population.
As the population profile changes, so do housing needs. This poses challenges and opportunities.
Local authorities approach older people’s housing in a variety of ways. Whilst there is an increasing need to deliver housing for older people, this is often not fully recognised. This means that proposals for older people’s housing can encounter obstacles in the planning system.
Carepacity helps developers assess the potential for older people’s housing and presents the best possible case for development. It offers a package of tools that assesses the potential and then demonstrates the case for development by:
