Reflecting on yesterday’s Housing LIN Cymru Symposium – “Making Wales a Great Place to Grow Old”

What an inspiring day! It was wonderful to be back in person with colleagues, partners, and thought leaders from across Wales to share ideas, experiences, and innovations shaping the future of housing, care, and communities for an ageing population.

A huge thank you to our fantastic co-chairs, Joanne Kirrane (Housing LIN Cymru Steering Group Chair and Group Executive Director of Operations, Hedyn) and Jeremy Porteus (CEO, Housing LIN), for leading the day with such energy and insight.

We were privileged to first hear from Max Hampton of the Design Commission for Wales. He outlined the Commission’s Placemaking Charter (opens new window) and, drawing on a selection of examples, challenged us to think about placemaking through the lens of ageing, ensuring that design enables dignity, connection, and independence at every stage of life.

Equally thought-provoking were Dr Sam Clark and Professor Juliet Davis from Cardiff University School of Architecture, who explored how “care-ready” design principles can extend right through to end-of-life care, reminding us that design is about more than buildings; it’s about people and compassion. Look out for their chapter on the Stirling Prize-winning almshouse, Appleby Blue, in a forthcoming book on ageing and architecture.

Thank you also to all our showcase presenters — Clwyd Alyn, Quattro Design, Legrand, Pobl, Hedyn, and Arcadis — for bringing theory to life with inspiring examples of innovation and collaboration on intergenerational living, housing with care, sustainable development, digital technology, and supported housing.

And finally, a special thanks to Brendan and the team at Neuadd Maldwyn, Clwyd Alyn’s new extra care housing scheme in Welshpool, for hosting us and giving us the chance to see first-hand what “a great place to grow old” can look like.

Days like today remind us of the power of partnership, shared learning, and design with purpose. Here’s to continuing the conversation and to making Wales a place where we can all age well, with dignity and joy.

If you’d like to support Housing LIN Cymru, have a say on our Steering Group and help plan future events, email us at: cymru@housinglin.org.uk.