The report, researched and written by Housing LIN's Lois Beech, highlights the benefits and design principles for intergenerational communities, emphasising older people’s health, wellbeing and social connectivity.

Key features include thoughtfully designed and shared buildings, accessible locations, and integration with later-living schemes and emerging intergenerational cohousing. It stresses creating attractive, adaptable places that encourage people to “rightsize” while building strong social networks.

Building on the original HAPPI principles, the report makes 50 specific recommendations for policy makers, planners, investors, health and adult social care commissioners, designers, mainstream and specialist housing providers and developers, introducing new Intergenerational HAPPI features.

Read the report here. 

Building on previous HAPPI reports on housing for an ageing population, this Inquiry focused on fostering mixed-age communities in both mainstream and specialist housing. It drew on evidence from the latest research, policies, and practices, as well as professional insights and personal experiences. A key emphasis was on creating intergenerational communities.

It sought to: 

• understand how to improve the intergenerational experience of older people, based on where they live and their surroundings.
• explore what good looks like for new developments (public and private) which create intergenerational communities for enhanced health and wellbeing for older people.
• use the lessons learned to inform new housing development and placemaking, not least in New Towns and on Grey Belt land.
• make recommendations to government; Homes England; Greater London Authority; regional and local authorities/planning authorities; the National Health Service; investors; designers; developers; and housing, health and social care providers.

The APPG Inquiry membership was made up of Parliamentarians and Specialists as follows:

Parliamentarians:

• Gideon Amos MP (Liberal Democrat, Taunton and Wellington)
• Lord Richard Best (Co-Chair of the APPG) (Crossbench)
• Neil Coyle MP (Vice Chair of the APPG)
• Anna Dixon MP (Co-Chair of the APPG) (Labour, Shipley)

Specialists:

• Jenny Buterchi, Partner, Architecture, Later Living & Care, PRP
• Rachel Crownshaw, Group Managing Director, Communities, Places for People
• Rama Gheerawo, Director and Founder, INSTILL
• John Glenton, Executive Director of Care and Support, The Riverside Group
• Fiona Howie, Chief Executive, Town and Country Planning Association
• Kevin McGeough, Head of Strategy and Placemaking, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
• Charlotte Miller, Co-Director, Intergenerational England
• Michael Voges, Chief Executive, Associated Retirement Community Operators
• Frances Wright, Head of Community Partnering, TOWN

There were a total of four Inquiry Panel sessions during this Inquiry.

At these meetings, ‘witnesses’ were invited to give evidence to help inform the Inquiry’s deliberations.

A call for written submissions was also issued to those with experience of creating or living in intentional intergenerational communities.

The Inquiry concluded in late 2025 and the final report was launched at the House of Lords in March 2026.

The Housing LIN has been Secretariat to many of the APPG’s Inquiries and author of the resultant influential HAPPI reports. The Housing LIN was delighted to be invited to be the Secretariat to this Inquiry.

Our Secretariat Team was led by Lois Beech, Assistant Director of Commercial and Partnerships at the Housing LIN.

This APPG is grateful to The Riverside Group and Places for People for sponsoring this Inquiry.

The Inquiry also seeked evidence from those with experience of creating or living in intentional intergenerational communities.

We were particularly interested in hearing about the different ways in which housing can successfully bring generations together, the design features that make this possible, the benefits for residents and wider communities, and the challenges or barriers that need to be addressed. These insights helped shape practical recommendations for policymakers, housing providers, and developers on how to create more inclusive, intergenerational places across the UK.

For enquiries relating to this Inquiry, contact: info@housinglin.org.uk (opens new window) or follow us on LinkedIn (opens new window) or BlueSky (opens new window).

For any press enquiries, please email our communications’ team at: comms@housinglin.org.uk.

This is not an official website of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in these webpages are those of the group.