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Planning Homes and Communities for Older People

The highly regarded resources have been especially collated for this portal and provide the planning policy background for planning applications for specialist housing for older people. Divided into nine key topics, they highlight national and local planning issues relating to the full spectrum of specialist housing for older people ranging from small scale extra care units to retirement villages.

Key Planning Subjects

National Level Guidance

An up-to-date account of planning guidance in England with reference to housing for older people.

Plans & Planning Documents

Some authorities are issuing Supplementary Planning Documents on Extra Care Housing or make reference to housing for older people in the Strategic Housing Market Assessments.

Use Class Issues

The issue of the Use Class of specialist housing for older people, definititions and further documentation.

Appeal Decision

Examples of appeal decisions which set out consideration of specialist housing / care developments.

S106 & CIL

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is gradually being phased in by many Local Authorities in England. S1016 and CIL is outlined in more detail here.

Obligations & CIL

This page provides information on the obligations under the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Planning Strategies & Identifying Needs

Useful strategies and publications to support a planning application.

Health & Wellbeing

Planning healthy living environments for people of all ages, case studies and reports.

Planning Benefits & Addressing Concerns

Explore the benefits of specialised housing for older people in order to support planning applications.

Useful Publications

Useful materials, including Housing LIN case studies and viewpoints, which set out the wider context of housing the ageing population:

Further Information

Further information regarding developments and the planning issues surrounding specialist housing for older people.

Key resources

National Planning Policy Framework

As reported by Public Health England (PHE), details about the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) have come under one roof and information on the impact built environments have on the health of communities.

Housing in later life: planning ahead for specialist housing for older people

This toolkit spells out the processes that could help the HAPPI objectives to be met - with particular emphasis on the role of local planning authorities.

Extra care housing, development planning, control and management. RTPI Practice note 8

This Good Practice Note aims to support urban and regional planning professionals engaged in forward planning and development management to respond to the growing demand for extra care housing in England.

Towards Accessible Housing: A toolkit for planning policy

This toolkit by Habinteg and TCPA gathers together resources to support local authorities in implementing the new Housing Standards.

Better planning for car ownership and well-being in old age

This Housing LIN Briefing seeks to connect the body of knowledge around the significance of car ownership in achieving well-being for older people to those making particular decisions that may impact on car ownership among older people, in particular, those living in specialised accommodation.

Hatching a plan for older people's housing

This viewpoint looks at the future role of planning in the changing context, suggesting that a comprehensive review of planning practice relating to older people's housing could help meet housing needs across all generations.

How can local planning authorities engage better with the housing needs of an ageing society?

Housing LIN viewpoint no 58 sets out how local authority planners can work within the reformed planning system to improve the amount and types of housing for older people.

More planning resources >