HLINks Weekly: 30 March 2026

Last week, we were pleased to launch a new set of Quick Guides, developed in partnership with the Centre for Ageing Better, Arup and the Housing LIN.

These practical resources support the design of inclusive, age-friendly places, shaped by local authorities and communities. Covering everyday settings, they offer guidance, case studies and checklists to help adapt environments, promote accessibility, and support independence, participation and wellbeing across ageing populations in local contexts.

Particularly relevant to housing, health and social care professionals, they respond to today’s need for more inclusive communities. We look forward to showcasing the guides in a forthcoming HAPPI Hour webinar in our Spring/Summer series.

In this week’s newsletter:

• Government proposes seven New Town locations in England
• The Built Environment Committee has published its report on new towns
• New call by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Public Health Research Programme on housing, place and the built environment for an ageing population research
• New Age-friendly Built Environment Quick Guides launched
• Two new Housing LIN guest blogs: Barbara Clarenz (AtkinsRéalis) explores why “living well” should shape the future of housing, while Future Leader participant Phoebe Grey (Carless + Adams) reflects on how strong leadership often starts in unfamiliar settings.