Tuesday February 26, 03:45 AM
Builders warn against 'age-friendly' homes
By Jim Pickard, Political Correspondent
Builders warned on Monday that government plans for new homes to be "age-friendly" would saddle the industry with additional costs as it appeared to be facing its biggest slowdown for years. Every new home in Britain will have to meet
"age-friendly" criteria, with features such as downstairs bathrooms and wider doorways to make them suitable for elderly people, the government said on Monday.But housebuilders said the 16 standards, which will become enforceable by 2013, would push up costs. "Putting requirements on builders at a time like this could have a big impact on affordability," said the Home Builders Federation, which criticised ministers' "one-size-fits-all" approach. Evidence of a weakening housing market can be seen in the dramatic fall-off in new builds in January, as compared with a year ago. The latest figures from the National House Building Council show builders began work on 9,135 private homes last month, compared with 14,998 in the same period of 2007. The data, seen by the FT, suggest the government's target for 3m new homes by 2020 is looking ever more optimistic. Builders are increasingly warning that meeting this figure is being hindered by the introduction of extra regulations, such as the need for all new homes to be carbon-neutral by 2016. Grant Shapps, shadow housing minister, said the age-related regulations were broadly positive but the government had "sprung" them on the industry and should have consulted first. But the announcement was welcomed by Age Concern, Help the Aged and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, national charities that believe much of Britain's housing stock is unsuitable for its growing population of over-65s, which is set to rise from 9.7m to 17m over 30 years. "This strategy is enormously important. Housing is the backbone of older people's quality of life, affecting their health, well-being and independence," said Paul Cann, director of policy and external relations at Help the Aged. Research indicates home safety modifications can reduce falls by up to 60 per cent, the government said.
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