Industry News


New homes plan to replace derelict garages


Derelict garage sites across Walsall in the West Midlands could soon be transformed into new and energy efficient housing developments, after whg revealed its modular homes vision. Social landlord whg currently houses


over 40,000 people in 21,000 properties, across 18 local authority areas in the Midlands. It has identified more than 200 unused sites in Walsall that could be brought back into use as new housing by using innovative technology. As part of its vision whg will build the


homes offsite before transporting them to their final destination and craning them into position. The HA has so far submitted 13 planning applications to Walsall Council, all consisting of three bed semi-detached homes, with more in the pipeline. Five applications have already been approved. Paul Nicol, Director at whg, said: “As part


of the transfer of housing stock from the council 16 years ago, we inherited a large number of garage sites. Many of these are unused, and attract anti-social behaviour and flytipping. “These sites have always been unsuitable


to build on due to access problems, and the cost of building houses in such low quantities using traditional construction methods. By building houses offsite we are able to overcome these barriers, and create high quality, energy efficient homes that can be simply dropped into position with minimal disruption.” “These new homes will help transform


neighbourhoods and address the shortage of affordable family homes in the borough by using brownfield sites.” Building the homes offsite allows whg to


build homes at a greater pace, with reduced costs, helping it reach its target of constructing around 3,000 new homes in the next five years. whg is exploring the potential of modular homes after it was awarded a £750,000 grant from Innovate UK to fund a two year research and development project into offsite housing construction. Working in collaboration with industry


experts, whg is developing a prototype that can be rolled out across its new development sites. The homes will be designed as lifetime homes which can be adapted to suit the needs of different generations and lifestyles. Their innovative construction technique means they will be cheap to heat, which will help tackle fuel poverty.


Coalition formed to tackle ‘ticking timebomb’ of inaccessible housing


built are accessible and adaptable for an ageing population. Campaigners predict a ‘dangerous shortage’ of


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suitable homes in the years to come, with only one new accessible home due to be built for every 15 people over the age of 65 by 2030. Ensuring homes are built to a higher standard of accessibility will ensure millions of homes will not need expensive adaptions in the future. Poor housing for the over-55s already costs the


NHS an estimated £624 million a year, mainly as a result of excess cold hazards and falls. Without effective action this situation will only get worse, with costs forecast to reach £1 billion per year by 2041. Only seven per cent of our existing homes


can be visited by someone in a wheelchair. Recent research shows that less than half of local housebuilding plans in England included provision for accessible homes. Meanwhile the number of households headed by someone aged 65 and over has increased by more than a million since 2010/11. The coalition, Housing Made for Everyone


(HoME), includes Age UK, the Royal Institute of British Architects, Habinteg, Disability Rights UK, the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing.


OPEN LETTER It has published an open letter calling on the next government to take greater action to secure housing suitable for an ageing population and people living with disabilities. The letter reads: “Without action, we face an ever-mounting bill, with councils spending greater


10 | HMM December/January 2020 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


new coalition of ten housing organisations and charities has called on the next government to ensure that all new homes


sums on trying to adapt homes retrospectively and the costs to our health and social care systems spiralling. The cost to individuals is no less damaging. Now is the time to ensure that everyone’s right to a safe and accessible home is met, today and in the years to come.” The HoME coalition has launched a charter to


transform new housing, which includes recommendations for central and local government, estate agents, and developers. The seven steps include a higher regulatory baseline for accessibility of all new homes; better data on the availability of accessible homes; and bold policies on planning for accessible housing from councils. Anna Dixon, the chief executive at the Centre for


Ageing Better, which is part of the coalition, said: “We face a dangerous shortage of homes that are accessible and adaptable. “While it’s not inevitable, the likelihood is that


most of us will experience disability or difficulties with activities of daily living at some point in our later life. And with more of us living for longer, this dire lack of accessible homes represents a ticking timebomb.” Responding to the launch of the coalition,


Councillor Darren Rodwell, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesperson, said: “To tackle the shortage of suitable homes for older and disabled people, councils need greater planning powers and resources to hold developers to account, ensuring that they build the right homes in the right places needed by different groups within the local community. “Accessibility features and home adaptations are


also vital to help keep people safe and independent in their homes and prevent avoidable admissions to hospital and care homes. Every £1 spent on housing adaptations are worth more than £2 in care savings and quality of life gains.”


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