Championing Intergenerational Communities at Parliament

I was privileged to take part in the All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People as we launched our latest Riverside‑sponsored inquiry report, ‘Creating Intergenerational Communities’ (opens new window), at Parliament.

At Riverside, we operate a number of ‘all‑age’ intergenerational Extra Care schemes. In these settings, our support workers foster positive relationships between customers through co‑produced programmes focused on health and wellbeing, connecting with neighbours, volunteering, and learning new skills. We wanted to be involved in the APPG inquiry because we have seen first‑hand how intergenerational housing can be transformational for residents — improving happiness, health and overall wellbeing.

Across the UK, single‑person households are now more common than ever, with around 29% of households made up of people living alone. Many of these are older people, and we know that isolation and loneliness can have a significant negative impact on physical and mental health.

Living in an intergenerational community offers opportunities to build relationships with a diverse range of neighbours and friends, helping to reduce loneliness and strengthen social connections. Dedicated housing schemes for older people also deliver positive outcomes for many residents. However, some older people prefer to remain in mixed‑age communities, where they feel more connected to everyday life. I have also seen how younger people benefit from these environments, with intergenerational living fostering supportive, mutually beneficial relationships.

Evidence submitted to the APPG inquiry highlighted that age‑segregated housing can feel stigmatising and disconnected for some residents. Our experience shows that intergenerational living and shared activities enable older residents to build strong bonds with younger people who have care and support needs, creating inclusive and vibrant communities.

You can read the inquiry report in full read the report from the inquiry in full here (opens new window), which makes 50 recommendations to improve the delivery of intergenerational communities and help address the chronic undersupply of housing for older people in England. This challenge is becoming increasingly urgent, with projections showing that the number of people aged over 60 is expected to nearly double to around 19 million by 2050.

I am confident that the inquiry will help address concerns held by those who believe intergenerational housing does not work. I hope that the housing sector and our partners will embrace the recommendations — not only when planning future developments, but also by exploring opportunities to adapt and re‑imagine existing housing schemes.

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We are pleased to be joined by John Glenton at our upcoming Designing Intergenerational Communities for Wellbeing and Belonging HAPPI Hour webinar (opens new window) on 28 April 2026. He will share insights on Riverside’s Extra Care developments, contributing to a panel exploring how housing design and community practice can facilitate inclusive, mixed-age communities and improve wellbeing.