Mike Donnelly Chief Executive

Habinteg Housing Association

Centre for Excellence in Universal Centre for Excellence in Universal DesignDesign

Lifetime Adaptable Homes Lifetime Adaptable Homes

SeminarSeminar1st July 2009

Lifetime Homes in Policy & PracticeLifetime Homes in Policy & Practice

• History.• The Need for Lifetime Homes.• Universal / Inclusive Design.• The Technical Lifetime Home Standard.• Policy and Progress in the UK.• Lifetime Homes Internationally / Universal Design

Movement.• Lifetime Homes and Ireland.

ADD IMAGE

How Lifetime Homes Came About / How Lifetime Homes Came About / HistoryHistory

• In late 1980s Habinteg developed the concept of Lifetime Homes with Helen Hamlyn Foundation whilst working on the design of housing for older people.

• In early 1990s Habinteg took idea of Lifetime Homes to Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) to promote and develop the concept.

• In 2008 JRF formally handed back promotion role to Habinteg as well as the technical role we’ve always played.

The Need for Lifetime HomesThe Need for Lifetime Homes

• UK: Statistics• International: Statistics• Ireland: Statistics

UK : StatisticsUK : Statistics

•2/3rd of disability occurs in older age.•There are an estimated 10m disabled people in the UK.

•44% of adults over 50 have a disability.•There are over 6.8m disabled people of working age which represents 19% of the working population.

•Annual spending power of disabled adults covered by the DDA is estimated at £80billion p/a (Approx 94billion EUR)

•42% of households contain at least one person with a long term illness, health problem or disability (H.Corp 2000).

• Austria 15.80% *

* We do not know if the figures include people who have mental health problems or have learning disabilities.

International: StatisticsInternational: Statistics

• Belgium 12.90% *

• Norway 15.00%*

• Italy 4.8%*

• USA 17.6%+

+ Including people who have mental health problems or have learning disabilities

• Japan 5.11%+

Ireland: StatisticsIreland: StatisticsSample Persons

with a Disability

Lower range limit 95% confidence

Upper range limit 95% confidence

Persons with a disability

Lower range limit 95% confidence

Upper range limit 95% confidence

PersonsRate per ‘000

Census Disability Sample 325,000 323,500 328,200 880 873 886

In Private Households 300,200 297,900 302,500 872 866 897

In Communal Establishments 25,600 25,200 26,000 972 957 967

NDS General Population Sample

423,300 353,300 493,300 115 96 135

All Persons 749,100 676,800 821,500 185 168 204

There are simple principles to Inclusive Design which relate to the whole built environment • Ease of use.• For everyone – whatever age, sex, state of health, abilities or disabilities.• Flexible and adaptable design built in.• Inclusive thinking right from the start and right in the heart of the design process; and• An overall design concept as well as a set of technical standards.

Lifetime Homes is a Part of the Lifetime Homes is a Part of the Universal / Inclusive Design MovementUniversal / Inclusive Design Movement

Lifetime Homes Standards:Lifetime Homes Standards:for New Build Housingfor New Build Housing

Not a technical presentation: www.lifetimehomes.org.uk

• Space for a temporary bed

• Provision for a shower with built-in drainage in downstairs toilet

• Provision for stair-lift / through-floor lift

• Ease of access bathroom

• Circulation standards and siting of controls

• Living Room at entrance level • Downstairs toilet

A brief idea of some of the 16 technical standards:

Visitability

Flexible and Adaptable (Temporary) Solutions

More Permanent Solutions

Other standards on car parking, approaching the home, doorand corridor widths etc.

Lifetime Homes: the 16 criteriaLifetime Homes: the 16 criteria1. Car parking2. Access from car parking

to dwelling3. Approach to entrances4. Entrances5. Communal stairs and

lifts6. Widths of doorways and

hallways7. Wheelchair circulation

and turning space in living and dining rooms

8. Living room at entrance level

9. Bed-space on entrance level10.Wheelchair accessible

entrance level WC and drainage for shower

11.Bathroom walls capable of having grabrails fitted

12.Stair-lifts/through-floor lifts13.Route for hoist14.Ease of access in bathroom15.Glazing in living rooms16.Switches, sockets and

controls

Lifetime Homes StandardsLifetime Homes Standards

• In essence – well designed, flexible and adaptable.

• Inclusive Design is good design

• Lifetimes and wheelchair users housing – The Difference

rthompson@habinteg.org.uk

The Government TargetThe Government Target

‘All public housing will be built to Lifetime Homes Standards by 2011. Our aspiration is that all new housing will be built to these standards by 2013’.

( ref: page 14 clause 20)

The Policy Tool, Public Sector:The Policy Tool, Public Sector:The Code for Sustainable HomesThe Code for Sustainable Homes

• Mandatory at level 6 from 2008• Mandatory at level 4 from 2010• Mandatory at level 3 from 2013• This will have the effect of ensuring that all public sector funded housing is built to Lifetime Homes Standards from 2011

The Policy Tool: Private SectorThe Policy Tool: Private Sector

‘While these code levels will be mandatory on the public sector stock, private developers may choose what code level they wish to develop at. In the next few years, we will encourage change through public funding, benchmarking and incentives. Our aspiration is that by 2013 all new homes will be being built to Lifetime Homes Standards’. (Ref: page 90, National Strategy)

• BRAC / BSI / DD 266• GLA – London Plan

Last 2 Strands: The Agenda of the Future

• Lifetime Homes internationally: The Universal / Inclusive Design Movement. The Drivers - Acknowledging Difference &

Diversity.

• Lifetime Homes in Ireland: Current Position. Policy Climate. Objectives and Way Forward.