Housing ResearchNumber 246
December 2011
housing
Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Practice Examples
Summary ResourceIntroduction
Recognising the importance of neighbourhood as a determinant of well-being in later life and its crucial role in supporting older people’s independence, the Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York to explore and develop the idea of a ‘lifetime neighbourhood’, and search out and present examples of how the idea has been taken forward in different parts of the country.
This summary describes the key elements that make up a lifetime neighbourhood, and sets out how individual residents, communities, local government, practitioners, councillors, the voluntary sector and the private sector can become involved and contribute to the development of lifetime neighbourhoods.
The summary also includes a checklist which sets out a range of issues that residents might want to consider as part of a community planning processes and the development of neighbourhood plans. It aims to focus thinking about how well the design of neighbourhoods and access to services work for different groups within neighbourhoods and to prompt reflection on the kind of issues that residents may want to consider in terms of how neighbourhoods and services might need to look in response to a growing older population in coming decades.
Housing Research Summary Number 246 2
The summary is intended as a resource to highlight a range of examples and sources of information that show how individuals and agencies nationally and internationally are addressing various aspects of lifetime neighbourhoods.
What is a lifetime neighbourhood?
Figure 1 (page 3) sets out the main components that make up a lifetime neighbourhood, and includes:
• supporting residents to develop lifetime neighbourhoods – especially resident empowerment
• access
• services and amenities
• built and natural environments
• social networks/well-being
• housing
Figures 2-7 illustrate a range of practice examples and resources that are available un-der each heading. The resources and examples listed are not exhaustive by any means, and are intended to illustrate the type of activities that are taking place. The full report describes in more detail the rationale for lifetime neighbourhoods, as well as describing practice examples in a range of different urban and rural contexts, in order to highlight the way in which features of lifetime neighbourhoods are being tackled in these diverse areas.Figure 2 (Page 4) – Resident Empowerment/Supporting Residents to Develop Lifetime Neighbourhoods
Figure 3 (Page 8) – Access
Figure 4 (Page 11) – Services and Amenities
Figure 5 (Page 13) – Built and Natural Environments
Figure 6 (Page 16) – Social Networks/Well Being
Figure 7 (Page 18) – Housing
Checklist (Page 21) – Looking at Lifetime Neighbourhoods
3 Housing Research Summary Number 246
Fig
ure
1 L
ifet
ime
Nei
gh
bo
urh
oo
ds:
Key
Co
mp
on
ents
Lifetime Neighbourhoods
Bu
ilt a
nd
nat
ura
len
viro
nm
ents
Soci
al n
etw
ork
s/w
ell-
bei
ng
Res
iden
tem
po
wer
men
t
Serv
ices
an
d a
men
itie
s
Ho
usi
ng
Publ
ic S
ecto
r
Volu
ntar
y C
omm
unity
and
Soci
alEn
terp
rise
Sect
or
Indi
vidu
als
Priv
ate
Sect
or
Supporting residents to develop lifetime neighbourhoods
Resi
dent
-led
activ
ities
to
plan
/del
iver
/eva
luat
e fe
atur
es o
f lif
etim
ene
ighb
ourh
oods
. Act
ions
by
com
mun
ity/v
olun
tary
/pub
lic/p
rivat
e se
ctor
sth
at e
mpo
wer
res
iden
ts t
o br
ing
abou
t th
e de
velo
pmen
t an
dm
aint
enan
ce o
f fe
atur
es o
f lif
etim
e ne
ighb
ourh
oods
.
Enab
le r
esid
ents
to
get
out
and
abou
t in
the
are
as in
whi
ch t
hey
live
–bo
th p
hysi
cally
and
virt
ually
– a
nd c
onne
ct w
ith o
ther
peo
ple
and
serv
ices
in t
he im
med
iate
nei
ghbo
urho
od a
nd b
eyon
d.
Nei
ghbo
urho
ods
with
a m
ix o
f res
iden
tial,
reta
il an
d em
ploy
men
t us
es.
Aff
orda
ble
acce
ss t
o a
rang
e of
ser
vice
s su
ch a
s he
alth
, pos
t of
fices
,ba
nkin
g fa
cilit
ies
or c
ash
mac
hine
s.
Built
env
ironm
ents
tha
t pr
omot
e sa
fe, i
nclu
sive
acc
ess
to k
ey s
ervi
ces
and
faci
litie
s. O
utdo
or s
pace
s an
d bu
ildin
gs t
hat
prom
ote
soci
al c
onta
ct.
Loca
lly a
cces
sibl
e gr
eens
pace
, and
aff
orda
ble
acce
ss t
o na
tura
len
viro
nmen
ts.
Info
rmal
/for
mal
opp
ortu
nitie
s an
d ac
tiviti
es (s
ocia
l, le
arni
ng/t
rain
ing,
volu
ntee
ring)
, whe
re p
eopl
e fe
el s
afe
and
confi
dent
and
whi
ch re
spec
tan
d re
flect
the
nee
ds o
f di
ffer
ent
ages
, cul
ture
s an
d et
hnic
ities
.
A r
ange
of
affo
rdab
le h
ousi
ng c
hoic
es b
ased
on
incl
usiv
e de
sign
prin
cipl
es in
ord
er t
o m
eet
the
occu
pant
s’ n
eeds
acr
oss
the
lifec
ours
e –
spac
e/la
yout
with
in h
omes
des
igne
d to
mee
t ch
angi
ng n
eeds
.
Acc
ess
Housing Research Summary Number 246 4
Supporting residents to develop lifetime neighbourhoods: resident empowerment (see Figure 2)
How lifetime neighbourhoods are achieved is just as important as what is done to bring about necessary changes. Residents stand at the centre of achieving change within the areas in which they live. Whilst it is not possible to be prescriptive about the specific features of lifetime neighbourhoods that should be developed in all areas, the overarching principle needs to be that of resident empowerment. This involves public sector, private sector, voluntary and community organisations working in such a way that residents of any age are enabled to:
• set out their needs and concerns
• identify priorities for action within their own areas
• work towards bringing about change and delivery themselves, and/or,
• make the case for the range of services that they want others to deliver into their communities.
5 Housing Research Summary Number 246
FIG
UR
E 2:
KEY
TH
EME:
SU
PPO
RTIN
G R
ESID
ENTS
TO
DEV
ELO
P LI
FETI
ME
NEI
GH
BO
UR
HO
OD
S
Des
crip
tio
n o
f ap
pro
ach
Exam
ple
s an
d fu
rth
er in
form
atio
n
Resi
dent
-led
Dev
elop
men
t of r
esid
ent-
led
defin
ition
of l
ifetim
e ne
ighb
ourh
oods
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Lond
on Te
nant
s’ F
eder
atio
n (L
TF):
deve
lopm
ent o
f ow
n de
finiti
on o
f lif
etim
e ne
ighb
ourh
oods
(htt
p:/
/ucl
just
spac
e.w
ord
pre
ss.c
om
/200
7-ju
st-s
pac
e-b
riefi
ng
s/lif
etim
e-n
eig
hb
ou
rho
od
s-20
08/)
G
uida
nce
in u
nder
taki
ng
Com
mun
ity le
d pl
anni
ngC
ase
Exam
ple
– A
ctio
n fo
r Com
mun
ities
in R
ural
Eng
land
(AC
RE) h
as se
t out
a st
ep
by st
ep g
uide
for c
omm
uniti
es to
invo
lve
all s
ectio
ns o
f the
com
mun
ity a
nd c
over
s all
mat
ters
that
aff
ect t
heir
qual
ity o
f life
in a
loca
l are
a, p
artic
ular
ly th
ose
that
nee
d m
ost
supp
ort w
ww
.acr
e.o
rg.u
k/o
ur-
wo
rk/c
om
mu
nit
y-le
d-p
lan
nin
g).
Eval
uatio
n of
com
mun
ities
/ne
ighb
ourh
oods
to a
sses
s ‘ag
e fr
iend
lines
s’ a
gain
st se
t crit
eria
Resi
dent
/com
mun
ity g
roup
/vo
lunt
ary
sect
or p
artn
ersh
ip
wor
king
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Dev
elop
men
t of a
n ‘a
ge-f
riend
ly’ a
ctio
n pl
an –
Eas
tleig
h So
uthe
rn
Paris
hes O
lder
Peo
ple’
s For
um. A
met
hod
for f
ocus
ing
thin
king
at l
ocal
leve
l abo
ut th
e ra
nge
and
type
of i
ssue
s tha
t go
into
mak
ing
up a
n ‘a
ge-f
riend
ly n
eigh
bour
hood
’ and
th
at c
ould
be
inco
rpor
ated
into
com
mun
ity le
d pl
anni
ng a
ppro
ache
s suc
h as
par
ish
plan
s: w
ww
.esp
op
f.o
rg/
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
– N
atio
nal A
ssoc
iatio
n fo
r Nei
ghbo
urho
od M
anag
emen
t w
ww
.nei
gh
bo
urh
oo
dm
anag
emen
t.n
et/i
nd
ex.p
hp
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– C
omm
unity
Dev
elop
men
t Fou
ndat
ion
ww
w.c
df.
org
.uk/
Volu
ntar
y se
ctor
Volu
ntar
y se
ctor
del
iver
y at
lo
cal l
evel
, or t
he d
evel
opm
ent
of re
sour
ces s
uch
as to
olki
ts to
as
sist
nei
ghbo
urho
od c
hang
e
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– H
elp
the
Age
d (2
008)
Tow
ards
Com
mon
Gro
und:
The
Hel
p th
e A
ged
Man
ifest
o fo
r Life
time
Nei
ghbo
urho
ods (
Lond
on: H
elp
the
Age
d).
Paris
h an
d to
wn
coun
cils
Gra
ssro
ots g
over
nanc
ePa
rish
and
tow
n co
unci
ls w
ill h
ave
a cr
ucia
l rol
e in
faci
litat
ing
a co
nsid
erat
ion
of
plan
ning
for a
gro
win
g ol
der p
opul
atio
n as
wel
l as a
chie
ving
life
time
neig
hbou
rhoo
d fe
atur
es a
s par
t of c
omm
unity
pla
nnin
g. F
urth
er in
form
atio
n –
Nat
iona
l Ass
ocia
tion
of
Loca
l Cou
ncils
: ww
w.n
alc.
go
v.u
k
Housing Research Summary Number 246 6
FIG
UR
E 2:
KEY
TH
EME:
Su
pp
ort
ing
resi
den
ts to
dev
elo
p li
feti
me
nei
gh
bo
urh
oo
ds (continued)
Des
crip
tio
n o
f ap
pro
ach
Exam
ple
s an
d fu
rth
er in
form
atio
n
Loca
l aut
horit
y ap
proa
ches
Plan
ning
and
del
iver
ing
chan
ge
thro
ugh
loca
l aut
horit
ies
The
Loca
l Gov
ernm
ent I
mpr
ovem
ent a
nd D
evel
opm
ent w
ebsi
te p
rovi
des a
nd sh
ares
go
od p
ract
ice
for l
ocal
aut
horit
ies o
n a
rang
e of
issu
es in
clud
ing
impr
ovin
g se
rvic
es fo
r ol
der p
eopl
e. T
he A
gein
g W
ell p
rogr
amm
e ha
s a ra
nge
of to
ols,
pra
ctic
e ex
ampl
es a
nd
even
ts fo
r pro
mot
ing
neig
hbou
rhoo
d ch
ange
w
ww
.idea
.go
v.u
k/id
k/co
re/p
age.
do
?pag
eId
=203
4465
5.
The
Plan
ning
Adv
isory
Ser
vice
has
pro
vide
d pr
actic
e gu
idan
ce fo
r loc
al a
utho
ritie
s for
pl
anni
ng, p
lace
bas
ed d
evel
opm
ent,
wor
king
with
com
mun
ities
and
mee
ting
the
need
s of
old
er p
eopl
e w
ww
.pas
.go
v.u
k/p
as/c
ore
/pag
e.d
o?p
ageI
d=1
Nor
ther
n H
ousi
ng C
onso
rtiu
m (2
010)
A g
uide
to a
ge-f
riend
ly c
omm
uniti
es in
the
Nor
th: p
eopl
e an
d pl
aces
202
0. S
unde
rland
: Nor
ther
n H
ousi
ng C
onso
rtiu
m L
td.
Dep
artm
ent f
or W
ork
and
Pens
ions
w
ww
.dw
p.g
ov.
uk/
po
licy/
agei
ng
-so
ciet
y/p
rod
uct
s-to
ols
-go
od
pra
ctic
e/
Cas
e ex
ampl
es o
f loc
al
auth
ority
app
roac
hes
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Man
ches
ter C
ity C
ounc
il –
Valu
ing
Old
er P
eopl
e to
cre
ate
an a
ge-
frie
ndly
city
(ww
w.m
anch
este
r.go
v.u
k/d
ow
nlo
ads/
file
/118
99/m
anch
este
r_a_
gre
at_p
lace
_to
_gro
w_o
lder
_201
0-20
20).
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Edin
burg
h –
A C
ity fo
r All
Age
s Edi
nbur
gh is
als
o w
orki
ng to
war
ds
mee
ting
the
need
s of o
lder
peo
ple
with
in b
lack
and
min
ority
eth
nic
grou
ps a
s par
t the
ir ap
proa
ch to
dev
elop
ing
an a
ge fr
iend
ly c
ity, c
entr
ed u
pon
the
Toda
y an
d To
mor
row
Ta
sk G
roup
ww
w.e
din
bu
rgh
.go
v.u
k/ac
faa.
Hou
sing
pr
ovid
er
appr
oach
es
Dev
elop
ing
neig
hbou
rhoo
d pl
ans
ww
w.li
verp
oo
lmu
tual
ho
mes
.org
/yo
ur_
nei
gh
bo
urh
oo
d/r
egen
erat
ing
__n
eig
hb
ou
rho
od
s/n
eig
hb
ou
rho
od
_pla
ns/
7 Housing Research Summary Number 246
FIG
UR
E 2:
KEY
TH
EME:
Su
pp
ort
ing
resi
den
ts to
dev
elo
p li
feti
me
nei
gh
bo
urh
oo
ds (continued)
Des
crip
tio
n o
f ap
pro
ach
Exam
ple
s an
d fu
rth
er in
form
atio
n
App
roac
hes b
y pr
ivat
e se
ctor
ag
enci
es
Priv
ate
sect
or d
evel
oper
s tha
t w
ork
with
resi
dent
s to
cons
ider
so
cial
infr
astr
uctu
re a
s par
t of
deve
lopm
ents
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Be
yond
Gre
en: w
ww
.bey
on
dg
reen
.co
.uk
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– U
rban
Spl
ash:
ww
w.u
rban
spla
sh.c
o.u
k
Inte
rnat
iona
l ap
proa
ches
App
roac
hes f
rom
oth
er
coun
trie
s to
fost
er re
side
nt-le
d pl
anni
ng, d
evel
opm
ents
and
ev
alua
tion
at n
eigh
bour
hood
le
vel
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– re
sour
ce fo
r res
iden
t gro
ups a
nd o
ther
s to
deve
lop
livab
le
com
mun
ities
for a
ll ag
es h
ttp
://l
ivab
le.o
rg/a
bo
ut-
us
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– V
ital A
ging
Net
wor
k –
ww
w.v
ital
-ag
ing
-net
wo
rk.o
rg/V
ital
_C
om
mu
nit
ies_
Too
lkit
/To
ols
/71/
Co
mp
reh
ensi
ve_T
oo
ls.h
tml
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– W
orld
Hea
lth O
rgan
isat
ion
(200
7) G
loba
l Age
-frie
ndly
Citi
es: A
G
uide
. WH
O, G
enev
a, S
witz
erla
nd.
ww
w.w
ho
.int/
agei
ng
/pu
blic
atio
ns/
Glo
bal
_ag
e_fr
ien
dly
_cit
ies_
Gu
ide_
Eng
lish
.pd
f
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Ru
ral a
reas
: Fed
eral
/Pro
vinc
ial/T
errit
oria
l Min
iste
rs R
espo
nsib
le fo
r Se
nior
s (20
07) A
ge-F
riend
ly R
ural
and
Rem
ote
Com
mun
ities
: A G
uide
. Hea
lthy
Agi
ng
and
Wel
lnes
s Wor
king
Gro
up o
f the
Fed
eral
/Pro
vinc
ial/T
errit
oria
l (F/
P/T)
Com
mitt
ee o
f O
ffici
als (
Seni
ors)
, Can
ada
(ww
w.p
hac
-asp
c.g
c.ca
/sen
iors
-ain
es/a
lt-f
orm
ats/
pd
f/p
ub
licat
ion
s/p
ub
lic/h
ealt
hy-
san
te/a
ge_
frie
nd
ly_r
ura
l/A
FRR
C_e
n.p
df)
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– C
ities
in b
alan
ce. E
U P
rogr
amm
e to
impr
ove
mai
nstr
eam
op
port
uniti
es fo
r old
er p
eopl
e, a
imin
g to
redu
ce re
lianc
e on
hea
lth a
nd c
are
serv
ices
by
enco
urag
ing
a gr
eate
r em
phas
is o
n br
oade
r wel
l-bei
ng is
sues
: ww
w.c
ib-o
nlin
e.eu
/
Age
pla
tfor
m E
urop
e. E
urop
ean
netw
ork
repr
esen
ting
olde
r peo
ple
acro
ss a
rang
e of
po
licy
area
s:w
ww
.ag
e-p
latf
orm
.eu
/en
/ab
ou
t-ag
e
Housing Research Summary Number 246 8
Access (see Figure3)
Access encompasses the various ways in which people can get out and about around the areas in which they live – both physically and virtually – and connect with other people and services in their immediate neighbourhood and beyond. The connections between different places are as important as the design and accessibility of places themselves. Forward thinking inclusive design features at one point in someone’s journey may be rendered useless by poor design somewhere else. Considerations include access to information and advice, creating walkable environments and transport.
9 Housing Research Summary Number 246
FIG
UR
E 3:
KEY
TH
EME:
AC
CES
S
Issu
e D
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hEx
amp
les
and
co
nta
cts
Info
rmat
ion
and
advi
ceU
sing
a v
arie
ty
of a
ppro
ache
s to
enab
le p
eopl
e to
fin
d ou
t inf
orm
atio
n,
get a
dvic
e an
d w
here
to fi
nd h
elp
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Firs
tsto
p (E
lder
ly A
ccom
mod
atio
n C
ouns
el) p
rovi
des a
web
and
tele
phon
e in
form
atio
n an
d ad
vice
serv
ice
for o
lder
peo
ple,
ww
w.fi
rsts
top
care
advi
ce.o
rg.u
k/.
An
eval
uatio
n of
the
serv
ice
has b
een
unde
rtak
en b
y Bu
rges
s (20
10).
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Vill
age
Age
nts,
Glo
uces
ters
hire
, defi
ned
as ‘A
loca
lly b
ased
peo
ple
who
ar
e ab
le to
pro
vide
face
to fa
ce in
form
atio
n an
d su
ppor
t whi
ch e
nabl
es o
lder
peo
ple
to
mak
e in
form
ed c
hoic
es a
bout
thei
r fut
ure
need
s’. V
illag
e A
gent
s are
join
tly fu
nded
by
Glo
uces
ters
hire
Cou
nty
Cou
ncil
and
Glo
uces
ters
hire
NH
S. T
he sc
hem
e is
man
aged
by
Glo
uces
ters
hire
Cou
nty
Cou
ncil
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith G
louc
este
rshi
re R
ural
Com
mun
ity
Cou
ncil
ww
w.v
illag
eag
ents
.org
.uk
Tran
spor
t-lin
king
toge
ther
di
ffer
ent t
ypes
of
tran
spor
tatio
n to
pr
ovid
e a
coor
dina
ted
serv
ice;
Prov
idin
g a
choi
ce o
f pu
blic
and
dem
and
resp
onsi
ve se
rvic
es
Inte
grat
ed tr
ansp
ort
serv
ices
Reso
urce
s for
loca
l au
thor
ities
Com
mun
ity
Tran
spor
t
Adv
ice
and
supp
ort a
bout
rura
l tr
ansp
ort i
ssue
s (R
ural
Com
mun
ity
Cou
ncils
)
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
Loca
l aut
horit
y le
d in
tegr
ated
tran
spor
t inc
ludi
ng v
olun
tary
sect
or a
nd
com
mun
ity g
roup
serv
ices
– C
allC
onne
ct, L
inco
lnsh
ire C
ount
y C
ounc
il
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Re
port
on
inte
grat
ed tr
ansp
ort i
n ru
ral a
reas
, inc
ludi
ng U
K/E
urop
ean
prac
tice
exam
ples
htt
p:/
/cfi
t.in
dep
end
ent.
go
v.u
k/p
ub
s/20
08/r
pt/
ind
ex.h
tm
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
– D
epar
tmen
t for
Tran
spor
t (20
10) R
esou
rce
guid
e fo
r loc
al a
utho
ritie
s:
Tran
spor
t sol
utio
ns fo
r old
er p
eopl
e
ww
w.d
ft.g
ov.
uk/
pg
r/in
clu
sio
n/o
lder
/tra
nsp
ort
solu
tio
ns.
pd
f
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
– C
omm
unity
Tran
spor
t Ass
ocia
tion
ww
w.c
tau
k.o
rg/
Cas
e Ex
ampl
e –
H.A
.R.T
. Com
mun
ity tr
ansp
ort,
Eas
t Yor
kshi
re w
ww
.med
ibu
s.o
rg.u
k
Usi
ng S
ocia
l Ent
erpr
ise
to d
evel
op c
omm
unity
tran
spor
t in
rura
l are
as;
ww
w.p
lun
kett
.co
.uk/
wh
atw
edo
/RC
T.cf
m
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
on a
dvic
e an
d su
ppor
t on
rura
l tra
nspo
rt is
sues
w
ww
.ru
rals
uss
ex.o
rg.u
k/se
rvic
e/ru
ral-t
ran
spo
rt/
Housing Research Summary Number 246 10
FIG
UR
E 3:
KEY
TH
EME:
AC
CES
S (continued)
Issu
e D
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hEx
amp
les
and
co
nta
cts
Cre
atin
g w
alka
ble
envi
ronm
ents
Fu
rthe
r inf
orm
atio
n –
tool
kits
for p
ract
ition
ers a
nd c
omm
unity
gro
ups:
w
ww
.livi
ng
stre
ets.
org
.uk/
cam
pai
gn
ing
_to
ols
/
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– M
itche
ll, L
., Bu
rton
, E. a
nd R
aman
, S. (
2004
) Nei
ghbo
urho
ods f
or li
fe.
A c
heck
list o
f rec
omm
enda
tions
for d
esig
ning
dem
entia
-frie
ndly
out
door
env
ironm
ents
. Lo
ndon
: Hou
sing
Cor
pora
tion.
Orie
ntat
ion
and
way
findi
ngU
sing
sign
s,
uncl
utte
red
stre
etsc
apes
and
la
ndm
arks
to m
ake
it ea
sier
for p
eopl
e to
nav
igat
e an
d fin
d th
eir w
ay a
roun
d
Man
ual f
or S
tree
ts 2
sets
out
des
ign
prin
cipl
es fo
r dec
lutt
erin
g: w
ww
.cih
t.o
rg.u
k
Mitc
hell,
L.,
Burt
on, E
. and
Ram
an, S
. (20
04) N
eigh
bour
hood
s for
life
. A c
heck
list o
f re
com
men
datio
ns fo
r des
igni
ng d
emen
tia-f
riend
ly o
utdo
or e
nviro
nmen
ts. L
ondo
n:
Hou
sing
Cor
pora
tion.
Burt
on, E
. and
Mitc
hell,
L. (
2006
) Inc
lusi
ve u
rban
des
ign:
stre
ets f
or li
fe (L
ondo
n: E
lsev
ier)
, se
ts o
ut th
e ar
gum
ents
and
des
ign
prin
cipl
es fo
r acc
essi
ble
stre
ets,
incl
udin
g or
ient
atio
n an
d w
ayfin
ding
as p
art o
f the
dis
cuss
ion.
Ade
quat
e pr
ovis
ion
of a
way
from
hom
e to
ilets
Des
ign
guid
ance
and
pr
actic
e ex
ampl
es
of a
way
from
hom
e to
ilet p
rovi
sion
Incl
usiv
e D
esig
n fo
r Get
ting
Out
door
s (I’D
GO
):
ww
w.id
go
.ac.
uk/
des
ign
_gu
idan
ce/s
tree
ts.h
tm#p
ub
licto
ilets
Dep
artm
ent f
or C
omm
uniti
es a
nd L
ocal
Gov
ernm
ent:
w
ww
.co
mm
un
itie
s.g
ov.
uk/
do
cum
ents
/lo
calg
ove
rnm
ent/
pd
f/71
3772
.pd
f
Dep
artm
ent f
or C
omm
uniti
es a
nd L
ocal
Gov
ernm
ent:
w
ww
.co
mm
un
itie
s.g
ov.
uk/
do
cum
ents
/lo
calg
ove
rnm
ent/
pd
f/10
6452
0.p
df
11 Housing Research Summary Number 246
Services and amenities (see Figure 4)
Neighbourhoods that offer a mix of residential, retail and employment uses can help to meet the needs of diverse groups within the community. Although it is an ambitious aspiration, this feature of lifetime neighbourhoods has the potential to enable local authorities and residents to meet a range of parallel objectives such as striving towards sustainability and helping to reduce negative impacts on the environment. The issues to be considered include promoting well being, local access to outlets and accessible food.
Housing Research Summary Number 246 12
FIG
UR
E 4:
KEY
TH
EME:
SER
VIC
ES A
ND
AM
ENIT
IES
Issu
eD
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hFu
rth
er in
form
atio
n a
nd
cas
e ex
amp
les
Prom
otin
g w
ell-b
eing
Hea
lth
inte
rven
tions
w
ithin
co
mm
uniti
es
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– pa
rtne
rshi
ps b
etw
een
loca
l aut
horit
ies,
hea
lth, v
olun
tary
and
com
mun
ity se
ctor
s to
join
up
serv
ice
and
brea
k do
wn
barr
iers
to b
ring
abou
t bet
ter l
ocal
ly d
eliv
ered
serv
ices
Lin
kage
plus
w
ww
.dw
p.g
ov.
uk/
po
licy/
agei
ng
-so
ciet
y/p
rod
uct
s-to
ols
-go
od
pra
ctic
e/lin
kag
e-p
lus/
Part
ners
hips
for O
lder
peo
ple
Proj
ects
(PO
PPs)
ww
w.d
h.g
ov.
uk/
en/S
oci
alC
are/
Del
iver
ing
adu
ltso
cial
care
/Old
erp
eop
le/P
artn
ersh
ipsf
orO
lder
Peo
ple
Pro
ject
s/in
dex
.htm
Loca
l acc
ess t
o re
tail
outle
ts
Acc
essi
ble
food
/fre
sh fo
od
Supp
ortin
g co
mm
erci
al
and
com
mun
ity
owne
d ou
tlets
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Ru
ral S
hops
Alli
ance
ww
w.r
ura
lsh
op
s.o
rg.u
k/en
/pag
es/D
efau
lt.a
spx
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Pl
unke
tt F
ound
atio
n:
ww
w.p
lun
kett
.co
.uk/
wh
atw
edo
/rcs
/ru
ralc
om
mu
nit
ysh
op
s.cf
mC
ase
exam
ple
– O
xfor
dshi
re V
illag
e Sh
ops D
evel
opm
ent W
orke
r Sch
eme,
Rur
al C
omm
unity
Cou
ncil
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Lo
ndon
Foo
d lin
k: w
ww
.su
stai
nw
eb.o
rg/l
on
do
nfo
od
link/
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– w
ww
.su
stai
nw
eb.o
rg/c
ityh
arve
st/.
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– w
ww
.cab
e.o
rg.u
k/su
stai
nab
le-p
lace
s/ad
vice
/urb
an-f
oo
d-p
rod
uct
ion
Cas
e ex
ampl
e –
Man
ches
ter f
ood
futu
res :
ww
w.f
oo
dfu
ture
s.in
fo/s
ite/
Cas
e ex
ampl
e –
Incr
edib
le E
dibl
e To
dmor
den:
ww
w.c
abe.
org
.uk/
case
-stu
die
s/in
cred
ible
-ed
ible
-to
dm
ord
en.
13 Housing Research Summary Number 246
Built and natural environments (see Figure 5)
Working towards built and natural environments that are inclusive of as wide an audience as possible is not just about a fundamental equalities issue. Outdoor spaces that work well for people have the potential for benefits in terms of sociability, health and well being. Although a range of guidance already exists that promotes sound design principles into new build, one consideration is the extent to which current guidance takes sufficient account of the implications of a larger number of older people in future decades. Further, a significant issue is how existing environments may need to be retrofitted to accommodate a growing older population, leading to the following key issues:
• How will new developments incorporate lifetime neighbourhood objectives into masterplanning;
• Retrofitting the current built environment, including the potential of regeneration and renewal, and
• Adequate maintenance of the existing infrastructure
• Recognising the importance of greenspace for health and well-being (and which is accessible for as many people as possible).
Housing Research Summary Number 246 14
FIG
UR
E 5:
KEY
TH
EME:
BU
ILT
AN
D N
ATU
RA
L EN
VIR
ON
MEN
TS
Issu
eD
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hFu
rth
er in
form
atio
n a
nd
cas
e ex
amp
les
New
des
ign
and
retr
ofitt
ing
that
pr
omot
es in
clus
ive
and
wal
kabl
e en
viro
nmen
ts
Stre
ets,
pav
emen
ts,
foot
path
s and
cy
cle
rout
es th
at
are
suffi
cien
tly
mai
ntai
ned,
cle
an,
wel
l-lit,
with
ad
equa
te ro
ad
cros
sing
poi
nts a
nd
seat
ing/
plac
es to
rest
in
pub
lic p
lace
s;
Des
ign
guid
ance
an
d re
sour
ces f
or
prac
titio
ners
Reso
urce
for U
rban
Des
ign
Info
rmat
ion
(RU
DI).
Res
ourc
e, n
ews a
nd n
etw
orki
ng si
te
dedi
cate
d to
urb
an d
esig
n an
d pl
acem
akin
g: w
ww
.ru
di.n
et/
Man
ual f
or S
tree
ts –
em
phas
ises
join
t wor
king
am
ong
prac
titio
ners
in th
e de
sign
of
resi
dent
ial a
nd o
ther
ligh
tly tr
affic
ked
stre
ets,
with
a p
rime
cons
ider
atio
n th
at th
ey m
eet
the
need
s of p
edes
tria
ns a
nd c
yclis
ts:
ww
w.d
ft.g
ov.
uk/
pg
r/su
stai
nab
le/m
anfo
rstr
eets
/
Man
ual f
or S
tree
ts 2
– n
ot a
repl
acem
ent f
or m
anua
l for
stre
ets,
but
wid
ens t
he sc
ope
beyo
nd re
side
ntia
l str
eets
(inc
ludi
ng ru
ral a
reas
) and
als
o se
ts o
ut d
eclu
tter
ing:
w
ww
.cih
t.o
rg.u
k
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Pa
pwor
th Tr
ust,
Gui
de to
pla
nnin
g, d
esig
ning
and
man
agin
g co
mm
uniti
es th
at a
re in
clus
ive
of d
isab
led
peop
le: w
ww
.pap
wo
rth
.org
.uk/
do
wn
load
s/p
t_g
uid
eto
dev
elo
pin
gin
clu
sive
com
mu
nit
ies_
2008
_ 10
0901
1015
23.p
df
Plan
ning
Adv
isor
y Se
rvic
e –
prac
tice
exam
ples
to il
lust
rate
how
loca
l pla
nnin
g au
thor
ities
ar
e w
orki
ng to
inco
rpor
ate
the
philo
soph
y an
d pr
inci
ples
of i
nclu
sive
des
ign
into
robu
st
plan
ning
pol
icie
s and
supp
lem
enta
ry p
lann
ing
Doc
umen
ts:
ww
w.p
as.g
ov.
uk/
pas
/aio
/404
75
Incl
usiv
e D
esig
n fo
r Get
ting
Out
door
s (I’D
GO
) ww
w.id
go
.ac.
uk/
ind
ex.h
tm
15 Housing Research Summary Number 246
FIG
UR
E 5:
KEY
TH
EME:
BU
ILT
AN
D N
ATU
RA
L EN
VIR
ON
MEN
TS (continued)
Issu
eD
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hFu
rth
er in
form
atio
n a
nd
cas
e ex
amp
les
Des
igni
ng a
nd
deve
lopi
ng
envi
ronm
ents
that
pr
omot
e he
alth
and
w
ell-b
eing
Des
ign
guid
ance
an
d re
sour
ces f
or
prom
otin
g he
alth
and
w
ell-b
eing
in n
ew a
nd
exis
ting
deve
lopm
ents
Gui
danc
e on
ach
ievi
ng
heal
th o
utco
mes
from
pl
anni
ng c
ontr
ibut
ions
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– ex
ampl
es o
f too
lkits
and
gui
danc
e fr
om S
cotla
nd fo
r loc
al
auth
oriti
es: w
ww
.livi
ng
stre
ets.
org
.uk/
ind
ex.p
hp
?cID
=124
Inte
rnat
iona
l exa
mpl
e –
Prov
inci
al H
ealth
Ser
vice
s Aut
horit
y (C
anad
a):
ww
w.p
hsa
.ca/
Hea
lth
Pro
fess
ion
als/
Pop
ula
tio
n-P
ub
lic-H
ealt
h/H
ealt
hy-
B
uilt
-En
viro
nm
ent/
def
ault
.htm
NH
S Lo
ndon
Hea
lthy
Urb
an D
evel
opm
ent U
nit (
HU
DU
) Hea
lth a
nd U
rban
Pla
nnin
g To
olki
t for
cal
cula
ting
plan
ning
con
trib
utio
ns fr
om d
evel
opm
ents
for h
ealth
care
w
ww
.hea
lth
yurb
and
evel
op
men
t.n
hs.
uk/
ind
ex.h
tml.
Des
ign
that
pro
mot
es
com
mun
ity sa
fety
, in
clud
ing
safe
stre
ets
and
play
are
as fo
r ch
ildre
n
Des
ign
guid
ance
on
com
mun
ity sa
fety
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Se
cure
d by
Des
ign:
ww
w.s
ecu
red
byd
esig
n.c
om
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion-
htt
p:/
/des
ign
agai
nst
crim
e.o
rg/
Gre
ensp
ace
Prov
idin
g op
port
uniti
es
for s
ocia
l con
tact
. Pr
omot
ing
heal
th a
nd
wel
l-bei
ng o
bjec
tives
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– D
esig
n gu
idan
ce fo
r pub
lic o
utdo
or sp
aces
and
par
ks –
I’D
GO
C
onso
rtiu
m: w
ww
.idg
o.a
c.u
k/d
esig
n_g
uid
ance
/op
en_s
pac
es.h
tm
Housing Research Summary Number 246 16
Social networks (see Figure 6)
As well as enabling residents to meet their daily needs, the inclusive design of physical features of neighbourhoods provides the essential backdrop to enable people to develop their social networks and participate as active citizens in their communities. Social networks enhance the way in which individuals are able to engage with their neighbourhoods and beyond, linking in to different groups, activities and facilities that are available.
The practice of developing lifetime neighbourhoods, therefore, includes not only a consideration of physical design, but also developing an understanding of the social factors and events that promote active participation in community life.
17 Housing Research Summary Number 246
FIG
UR
E 6:
KEY
TH
EME:
SO
CIA
L N
ETW
OR
KS/
WEL
L-B
EIN
G
Issu
eD
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hFu
rth
er in
form
atio
n a
nd
cas
e ex
amp
les
Hel
ping
soci
al n
etw
orks
to
dev
elop
and
redu
ce
tens
ions
bet
wee
n re
side
nts a
nd g
roup
s
Supp
ortin
g so
cial
ne
twor
ks/p
ract
ical
hel
p/Ta
cklin
g so
cial
isol
atio
n
Inte
rgen
erat
iona
l pr
ojec
ts
Goo
d ne
ighb
our
sche
mes
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– Be
th Jo
hnso
n Fo
unda
tion:
ww
w.b
jf.o
rg.u
k/
Nat
iona
l Fou
ndat
ion
for E
duca
tiona
l Res
earc
h (N
FER)
. Lite
ratu
re re
view
of e
ffec
tive
inte
rgen
erat
iona
l pra
ctic
e: w
ww
.nfe
r.ac.
uk/
pu
blic
atio
ns/
LIG
01/
Cas
e ex
ampl
e –
Leed
s int
erge
nera
tiona
l pro
ject
s. ‘N
eigh
bour
hood
s for
all’
net
wor
k es
tabl
ishe
d by
the
loca
l aut
horit
y to
supp
ort g
rass
root
s, c
omm
unity
led
inte
rgen
erat
iona
l w
ork,
esp
ecia
lly in
prim
ary
and
seco
ndar
y sc
hool
s. w
ww
.leed
sin
itia
tive
.org
/ass
ets/
0/7
06/7
32/8
18/8
24/0
c18d
e6f-
0e91
-43c
2-89
2a-9
e31a
714e
352.
pd
f
Cas
e ex
ampl
e –
Suff
olk
good
nei
ghbo
ur sc
hem
e: w
ww
.on
esu
ffo
lk.c
o.u
k/G
oo
dN
eig
hb
ou
rSch
eme/
Plac
es fo
r peo
ple
to m
eet
com
mun
ity c
entr
es/
villa
ge h
alls
/co
mm
unity
caf
és
AC
RE g
uida
nce
and
exam
ples
of c
omm
unity
ow
ned
asse
ts –
w
ww
.acr
e.o
rg.u
k/o
ur-
wo
rk/c
om
mu
nit
y-as
sets
Tack
ling
crim
e/fe
ar o
f cr
ime
and
anti-
soci
al
beha
viou
r
The
role
of t
he v
olun
tary
sect
or, c
omm
unity
gro
ups a
nd th
e pr
ivat
e se
ctor
com
ing
toge
ther
to se
lf or
gani
se a
nd a
ddre
ss is
sues
rela
ted
to fe
ar o
f crim
e ha
s bee
n em
phas
ised
by
the
Safe
r Hom
es In
itiat
ive
fund
ed b
y th
e H
ome
Offi
ce, w
ww
.gra
nts
adm
in.c
o.u
k/sa
ferh
om
es/i
nd
ex.h
tml
Cas
e ex
ampl
e –
Kilb
urn
Old
er P
eopl
e’s E
xcha
nge
– Pr
oduc
tion
by c
omm
unity
gro
up o
f D
VD
on
crim
e pr
even
tion
to h
elp
redu
ce fe
ar o
f crim
e, so
cial
isol
atio
n as
wel
l as h
elpi
ng
to k
eep
peop
le sa
fer:
ww
w.k
ove
.org
.uk
Housing Research Summary Number 246 18
Housing (see Figure 7)
Wherever we live as we grow older our homes have a powerful influence on our capacity to remain independent, socially involved and to enjoy a good quality of life. In the context of delivering lifetime neighbourhoods, a key challenge is to ensure a diverse range of appropriate accommodation options within neighbourhoods (or that are within reach of communities if particular housing options cannot be made available in the immediate locality – especially in rural areas). The overwhelming proportion of older people living in general needs housing – 90 per cent – shows that the emphasis of the lifetime neighbourhoods agenda needs to be on retrofitting accommodation, and in delivering services across existing neighbourhoods. Where there are opportunities, however, to develop new housing and new neighbourhoods, the emerging policy context suggests that residents, local planners and developers will need to work together to determine future new build developments, taking account not only of the requirements of current needs, but also projections of future demands in the coming decades. The variety of housing options required if any one neighbourhood needs to consider a balance between general needs housing, specialist housing options, and also housing related support services such as Home Improvement Agencies and handyperson services.
19 Housing Research Summary Number 246
FIG
UR
E 7:
KEY
TH
EME:
HO
USI
NG
Issu
eD
escr
ipti
on
of
app
roac
hFu
rth
er in
form
atio
n a
nd
cas
e ex
amp
les
Prov
idin
g ho
usin
g ch
oice
s for
peo
ple
thro
ugho
ut th
e lif
ecou
rse
Des
ign
guid
ance
on
hou
sing
and
ne
ighb
ourh
oods
for a
ll ag
es
Spec
ialis
ed h
ousi
ng
optio
ns fo
r old
er p
eopl
e
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– de
sign
gui
danc
e fo
r hou
sing
and
nei
ghbo
urho
ods o
n th
e ar
chiv
ed
CA
BE w
ebsi
te: w
ww
.cab
e.o
rg.u
k/h
ou
sin
g; s
ee a
lso:
ww
w.b
uild
ing
forl
ife.
org
/ho
me
New
info
rmat
ion
abou
t CA
BE a
nd th
e D
esig
n C
ounc
il w
ill b
e av
aila
ble
from
Apr
il 20
11:
ww
w.d
esig
nco
un
cil.o
rg.u
k/
The
sixt
een
desi
gn st
anda
rds t
hat c
ompr
ise
the
Life
time
Hom
es S
tand
ards
(see
ww
w.
lifet
imeh
om
es.o
rg.u
k/),
but a
lso
see
Man
ches
ter’s
Des
ign
for A
cces
s 2 fo
r an
alte
rnat
ive:
w
ww
.man
ches
ter.g
ov.
uk/
site
/scr
ipts
/do
wn
load
_in
fo.p
hp
?file
ID=3
521
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– H
ousi
ng fo
r an
Age
ing
Popu
latio
n Pa
nel f
or In
nova
tion
(HA
PPI)
was
co
mm
issi
oned
by
the
Hom
es a
nd C
omm
uniti
es A
genc
y:
ww
w.h
om
esan
dco
mm
un
itie
s.co
.uk/
Ho
usi
ng
-Ag
ein
g-P
op
ula
tio
n-P
anel
-In
no
vati
on
Supp
ort t
ools
by
hous
ing
prov
ider
s to
faci
litat
e ho
usin
g an
d ne
ighb
ourh
ood
desi
gn
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
– H
abin
teg
is d
evel
opin
g a
new
on-
line
tool
to b
ring
toge
ther
gui
danc
e,
good
pra
ctic
e, re
sear
ch a
nd c
ase
stud
ies o
n al
l asp
ects
of L
ifetim
e N
eigh
bour
hood
s:
ww
w.li
feti
meh
om
es.o
rg.u
k/p
ages
/lif
etim
e-n
eig
hb
ou
rho
od
s.h
tml
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– H
omes
and
Com
mun
ities
Age
ncy
– re
sour
ce fo
r pra
ctiti
oner
s an
d co
mm
unity
gro
ups i
dent
ifyin
g pr
actic
e ex
ampl
es a
nd g
uida
nce
on a
rang
e of
key
th
emes
rele
vant
to li
fetim
e ne
ighb
ourh
oods
(inc
ludi
ng b
uilt
envi
ronm
ent,
com
mun
ity
empo
wer
men
t and
hou
sing
): h
ttp
://s
kills
.ho
mes
and
com
mu
nit
ies.
co.u
k/
Supp
ortin
g pe
ople
to
live
in th
eir o
wn
hom
es
Hou
sing
rela
ted
supp
ort
serv
ices
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– H
ome
impr
ovem
ent A
genc
ies w
ww
.fo
un
dat
ion
s.u
k.co
m/h
om
e
Furt
her i
nfor
mat
ion
– ad
vice
for o
lder
peo
ple
(led
by th
e El
derly
Acc
omm
odat
ion
Cou
nsel
) w
ww
.firs
tsto
pca
read
vice
.org
.uk/
Housing Research Summary Number 246 20
Looking forward to lifetime neighbourhoods
A key role for practitioners is in facilitating a consideration of the responses necessary within neighbourhoods to address the long term implications of a growing older population. Planning for neighbourhood change might revolve around engagement with residents over individual services or more holistic, place based design of neighbourhoods and services. More fundamentally, practitioners have an important role in resident empowerment, and also in providing information about projected population change within neighbourhoods to assist residents in thinking about how neighbourhoods and service delivery may need to be configured into the future.
In this respect, resident empowerment will be an essential process as part of fostering lifetime neighbourhoods, to enable individuals and communities to set their own priorities and agendas in order to bring about change in the area where they live, either by their own actions or by working with providers and commissioners to get the services that they need. There are a range of evaluation tools from other countries, especially the USA and Canada. In the UK, there are also a number of examples where audits of neighbourhoods, and specific features of neighbourhoods have taken place, as a way of helping to assess ‘age friendliness’, and how well neighbourhoods work for people.
While pre-existing tools and resources are useful, all neighbourhoods will be different, and each will be starting from a unique point. There is an imperative to consider the lifetime neighbourhoods agenda in many rural localities since the implications of a growing older population are already becoming apparent, and will continue to do so more rapidly than in urban communities. Whilst the broad principles that underpin lifetime neighbourhoods are similar for any area, the practical outcomes in terms of priorities and emphases will look very different between rural, suburban, inner city and town or city centres, as well as between different types of rural area.
Nevertheless, there remain real challenges for residents and practitioners who aim to develop lifetime neighbourhoods, including overcoming limited awareness of the implications of demographic change and the potential for neighbourhood design and service delivery to be more inclusive, as well as severe resource constraints in taking this agenda forwards.
This summary has set out a number of principles and themes for achieving lifetime neighbourhoods. The issues that residents currently face in terms of the design of their neighbourhoods and the range of services and facilities available vary hugely. The priorities that communities decide upon in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the coming decades will necessarily be diverse. Furthermore, there is already a huge range of individuals, groups and organisations undertaking projects that help to meet lifetime neighbourhood objectives. We would urge communities, service providers and tiers of government to celebrate this diversity, and to encourage residents to articulate their visions and share ideas and innovation at local level, and more widely.
21 Housing Research Summary Number 246
The following checklist sets out the range of issues that residents might want to consider as part of community planning processes and the development of neighbourhood plans. It aims to focus thinking about how well the design of neighbourhoods, and access to services work for different groups within neighbourhoods. It also aims to prompt reflection on the kind of issues that residents may want to consider in terms of how neighbourhoods and services might need to look in response to a growing older population in coming decades. It is suggested that the checklist be considered alongside the features and themes of lifetime neighbourhoods set out in Figure 1.
Checklist:
• How well does our neighbourhood work as a place to live?
• How far does it meet the needs of all the people who live here?
• Are there aspects of the neighbourhood that work well for some people, but not for others?
– Older people
– Families with children
– Young adults
– Children
– Disabled people
– Minority ethnic groups
• Are there features of our neighbourhood that are highly valued?
– By whom?
– Is there a consensus?
• Is there a feature of the neighbourhood, or a service, that we don’t want to lose?
• Are there features of our neighbourhood that are less valued?
– By whom?
– Is there a consensus?
– Is there anything we would like to lose?
• How well do we think our neighbourhood will work when there is a larger number of older people in the future?
– What do we think may be needed in the future?
– Will new or different services need to be provided?
– Will the design of the neighbourhood need to alter?
– How will people be able to access the services they require?
Housing Research Summary Number 246 22
Access
• How well does our neighbourhood work in terms of enabling residents to get out and about? What about the following groups:
– Older people
– Families with children
– Young adults
– Children
– Disabled people
– Minority ethnic groups
• Are there adequate, safe, well maintained pavements/cycle ways and roads?
• How will access around the neighbourhood need to change when there is a larger number of older people?
Housing:
• Is there sufficient housing that is affordable and that has the space to enable households to make any necessary changes for example as a result of poor health or impairments?
• Is there a sufficient range of housing, including homes that are well designed to meet needs across the lifecourse, which is affordable and that has the space to enable households to make any necessary changes e.g. as a result of poor health or impairments?
• How well does the range of housing choices that are available in the neighbourhood work for:
• Older people
– Families with children
– Young adults
– Disabled people
– Minority ethnic groups
• How well will the housing choices that are available work when there is a larger number of older people?
Information services and amenities
• Is there sufficient access to information and advice on housing options, wider services and amenities to exercise choice locally?
• How far do residents have local access to services and amenities?
– How far do people have to travel if there is no provision within the neighbourhood?
– How do they get there?
23 Housing Research Summary Number 246
Social networks/well-being
• Are there any tensions between members of the community?
• Can these tensions be resolved?
• How safe do we feel when we go out?
• Does this change at different times of the day?
Thinking about the future:
• How can we plan now for the changes we are going to see in the coming decades?
– What would be our priorities?
• Can we get involved in the design and commissioning of services?
• Who is already involved from within our community when we talk to service providers or commissioners?
– Who is not involved?
– How can we get wider involvement?
• What about the design of the neighbourhood itself?
– Can changes be made to the existing infrastructure?
– How will the infrastructure be maintained?
• If a new development is going to take place amongst us or near us, what can be done to make sure it meets the needs of as many people as possible?
– Are there design features we feel are an absolute minimum?
– What type of community infrastructure would be of most benefit to the neighbourhood?
• If a change is planned in terms of a service or a design feature in the neighbourhood, will there be winners and/or losers?
• Can this tension be resolved?
– What opposition is there likely to be to any planned change?
– What information and data is there available about different aspects of the neighbourhood and who lives here?
– Who can provide this?
– Do we need to provide this information ourselves?
Housing Research Summary Number 246 24
© Crown copyright, 2011
Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown.
You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or e-mail: [email protected].
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December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4098- 2975-1