1. Rural Housing our Ageing Population: Preserving Independence
24 July 2018
Jeremy Porteus
Managing Director
@HousingLIN

2. APPG Rural Housing for Older People Inquiry
Terms of reference
The aim of the inquiry is to consider the obstacles to ensuring older people living in rural areas enjoy appropriate housing and have access to adequate care and support at home; and to make recommendations to Government, and those planning, commissioning and operating housing and care in rural areas.

3. APPG HAPPI4 - Methodology
Inquiry members made up of Parliamentarians and experts including CLA, ADASS and TCPA
APPG inquiry visits to North Yorkshire, Cheshire and Wales
3 Inquiry sessions in Westminster with expert witnesses and the lived experience of older people
Call for evidence issued by the Housing LIN
Received written submissions

4. West Midlands representations
Connexus
Rooftop Housing Group
Shropshire Housing
Wychavon DC

5. HAPPI4 – key messages
“Our underlying concern is with the growing numbers of older people in rural communities who will face a huge challenge to their independence and wellbeing if their homes are no longer suitable. Their needs can be met by both small village developments – perhaps six bungalows on an unused scrap of land – or by larger scale retirement schemes in towns close by.
While we concluded that both these solutions can work well, we were particularly keen to remove the barriers to helping people remain in their own locality. We recognised that there are extra costs of delivering care to those in rural areas, we were clear that tailor-made homes will, of themselves, reduce the need for care at home and help older people stay
well for longer.”

6. HAPPI4 – what we found
“We need to be more creative if we are to meet the housing needs of rural communities” Dominic Raab, Housing Minister
“When a social problem [rural housing] reaches 'The Archers' you know it’s big” Richard Macer, BBC’s Battle in the Countryside
“I want to grow older where I am. Living in a village is lovely. There is togetherness which I wouldn’t find so easily in a town whereas in a village I am not lonely at all. It’s idyllic, it’s peaceful, and it’s wonderful” Mrs June Rowberry, retired Rooftop Housing Group resident

7. Key rural infographics (1)

8. Key rural infographics (2)

9. Key rural infographics (3)

10. Should I stay or should I go?
Almshouses
Community-led housing
Extra care ‘hubs’/ retirement villages
General Needs/bungalows
Mainstream HAPPI housing
Care and Repair/HIAs and handyperson services

11. HAPPI4 – key areas covered
Meeting older people’s housing needs and aspirations
Healthier homes, rural baby-boomers, sheltered housing, wider housing choices, intergenerational housing, rural housing enabling, agri-business
Planning for later life housing in rural areas
NPPF, planning considerations, rural exception sites, better strategic planning, unlocking local authority land, s106 etc
Prescribing better rural health and social care
Health & wellbeing, ageing population, hub and spoke models, social prescribing, broadband and technology, voluteering and mutual support

12. HAPPI4 – key recommendations
For Government – rural-proofing housing to stimulate growth, retain Local Plans in planning policy, adoption of Lifetime Homes and age-friendly HAPPI design, withhold Right to Buy, conversion of farm buildings ie for retirement purposes
For Homes England – use grant to support a viable market in rural areas, support Rural Housing Enablers and community-led approaches
For local authorities – strategic leadership, encourage housing for older people on rural exception sites, delivery HAPPI housing to offset expensie homecare & residential care in rural areas, support HIAs
For Housing organisations – more effective partnerships with CLTs, explore innovative technology to reduce isolation, create ‘hubs’, offer more housing choice, including almshouses
For landowners – work with LAs and HAs to develop suitable and affordable housing, inc for retired farmer workers, key workers etc

13. A rural housing pledge
Work closely with the local community and Parish Council to find the right site
Always give qualifying local people in housing need first priority for every home
Ensure that affordable homes always remain affordable
Build sensitively designed, high quality homes to high environmental standards
Provide good quality and locally sensitive management services to our residents, and
Always respond positively to the local community

14. Rural proofing HAPPI design principles
The ten HAPPI design principles
Rural proofed HAPPI features
i Generous internal space standards
ii Plenty of natural light in the home and circulation spaces
iii Balconies and outdoor space, avoiding internal corridors and single-aspect flats
iv Adaptability and ‘care aware’ design which is ready for emerging telecare and telehealthcare technologies
v Circulation spaces that encourage interaction and avoid an ‘institutional feel’
vi Shared facilities and community ‘hubs’ where these are lacking in the neighbourhood
vii Plants, trees, and the natural environment
viii High levels of energy efficiency, with good ventilation to avoid overheating
ix Extra storage for belongings and bicycles
x Shared external areas such as ‘home zones’ that give priority to pedestrians
i Generous internal space standards not least to allow for overnight visitors / carers  
ii Plenty of natural light with varied views and vistas
iii Accessible private balconies or private outdoor space at ground floor
iv Adaptability and ‘care aware’ design which is digitally / technology enabled
v Circulation and break out spaces that encourage interaction and avoid ‘institutional feel’
vi Access to outward facing on-site shared facilities or community ‘hubs' within easy reach
vii Easy access to green space, village green, natural landscape with resting and sitting places
viii Fabric first approach, draught-free affordable warmth, ease of control and energy efficient
ix Extra storage for personal belongings and ease of access to mobility aids
x Close proximity of accessible public transport and level access for private transport drop off areas

15. Thank you! C/o EAC 3rd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP
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