Specification: Supported Housing Accommodation

Good design can make people’s day to day lives easier, reduce the need for care and support, and improve health, wellbeing and quality of life. Written with the aim for supported housing to be designed and built to a high standard which can help people to live with the best quality of life possible, this document produced by Richmond and Wandsworth Councils sets out expectations and requirements for all types of supported housing developments for different people groups. 

It provides an outline specification for the potential development of new homes designed for people who require supported accommodation. Disabled and older people who move into supported housing may have a range of different support needs including but not limited to, physical, sensory, and cognitive impairment and may be more likely to experience sensory overwhelm. 

The document outlines general design principles as well as specific design principles for access, outdoor and communal areas, individual flats, kitchens and bathrooms, as well as consideration of sensory design principles for lighting, soundproofing, touch and control of odours.