HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
8 September 2025
Welcome back to HLINks!
We hope you had a restorative summer. After a short break, we’re back with a special summer catch-up edition of the Housing LIN newsletter, featuring the latest news, resources, policy updates, and thought leadership across housing, health, and social care.
This edition highlights updates you may have missed and celebrates inclusive housing developments. We’re also proud to support ten years of accessible housing standards with Habinteg’s Accessible Homes Week (AHW), calling for stronger commitments in the new national Housing Strategy. Join us as we explore accessible and adaptable homes, and much more, when our new HAPPI Hour webinar series launches on Tuesday, 30th September.
Inside this issue: Discover this year’s Housing Design Awards HAPPI winner, Arcadis’ supported housing in Bath; hear how Bield becomes the first Scottish sponsor of Housing LIN; explore the APPG Inquiry on intergenerational communities; meet Two Rivers Housing, our newest South West sponsor; and catch up on key insights from reports, blogs, and events, from accessibility challenges to leadership in age-friendly housing. Plus, we reflect on the legacies of the Disability Discrimination Act with a series of guest blogs and remember the contributions of the late Professor Anthea Tinker CBE.
From policy updates and new research to events and webinars, this issue is packed with insights to help you re-engage as we head into an action-packed autumn. As always, HLINks is your platform. Share your news, projects, and ideas with us so we can spotlight the work shaping better housing, health, and social care.
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our community.
|
The Housing LIN Team |
News Highlights
Happy to announce this year’s Housing Design Awards HAPPI winner
We are pleased to advise that Arcadis’ Englishcombe Lane supported housing development has won this year’s Housing Design Awards HAPPI prize, supported by the Housing LIN.
With an increasing focus on designing for neurodiversity across all ages, the scheme delivers much-needed supported housing accommodations in Bath for individuals with autism, learning disabilities, and mobility issues.
Call for evidence from APPG Inquiry into Creating Intergenerational Communities
Earlier this year, the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People launched an Inquiry into ‘Creating Intergenerational Communities,’ co-chaired by Lord Best and Anna Dixon MP. Three sessions have so far gathered insights from practitioners and residents.
Now at its mid-point, the Inquiry is calling for evidence from those involved in or living in intergenerational communities. Submissions should cover design features, benefits, challenges, and lessons learned to inform practical recommendations for policymakers, developers, and housing providers.
Please email your evidence to research@housinglin.org.uk by Friday, 17 October 2025.
United St Saviour's Charity: Retirement Housing makes Stirling Prize 2025 shortlist
We’re thrilled that Appleby Blue in Bermondsey, designed by Witherford Watson Mann for Housing LIN sponsor United St Saviour’s Charity, is one of six schemes shortlisted for the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize.
The winner will be announced in London on 16 October. Learn more about Appleby Blue and the community work of United St Saviour’s Charity at our HAPPI Hour webinar on Tuesday, 7 October 2025.
You can also watch this Channel 4 video highlighting Appleby Blue and its innovative approach to social housing for older adults.
Bield becomes first Scottish sponsor of Housing LIN
We are pleased to announce that Bield Housing & Care, a leading housing association providing homes and support for older people across Scotland, has become our first Scottish sponsor.
This sponsorship strengthens our partnership with Bield, building on their work advancing technology for our ageing population.
Housing LIN welcomes Two Rivers Housing as latest sponsor
We are also delighted to announce Two Rivers Housing as our newest South West sponsor, strengthening a shared commitment to shaping better housing, health, and social care solutions for people as they age.
The partnership combines Housing LIN’s national expertise with Two Rivers Housing’s local innovation in delivering high-quality, affordable homes in rural communities.
Housing LIN Cymru Steering Group set out its agenda for Wales
The Housing LIN Cymru Steering Group met this summer to plan 2025/26, discussing extra care housing challenges, new developments, research ideas, and a 5-year leadership partnership with Vivensa, ahead of this autumn’s planned Symposium.
Future Leaders Programme – 2025/26 cohort kicks off
Back in July, the 2025 Future Leaders Programme launched at Sovereign Network Group's (SNG) HQ in Wembley, uniting diverse professionals committed to age-friendly housing, leadership growth, and community impact through immersive sessions and inspiring speakers.
We are grateful to SNG for sponsoring this year’s cohort.
Three years, no action: 375,000 new homes still built to inadequate accessibility standards
July marked three years since the government pledged Accessible and Adaptable homes, yet no regulatory action has followed. Over 375,000 new homes meet only inadequate standards, making adaptation costly and risking strain on care services.
As a member of the HoME Coalition, we urge urgent reform so every home supports comfort, independence, and dignity throughout life.
We are proud to support coalition member Habinteg’s Accessible Homes Week (AHW).
In memoriam: Professor Anthea Tinker CBE
The Housing LIN was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Anthea Tinker earlier this summer.
A Professor of Social Gerontology, she was a valued professional friend of the Housing LIN and a personal friend of our CEO, Jeremy Porteus.
Six PRP projects shortlisted across British Homes Awards 2025 categories
Housing LIN Summit sponsor PRP Architects has been shortlisted for six schemes in this year’s British Homes Awards, including Wycliffe Park, a completed retirement village.
PRP Architects were also winners at last week's Housing Design Awards for Ashmere Phase One in Ebbsfleet.
Housing LIN celebrates Starts at Home Day, backing call to protect supported housing
Last month's Starts at Home Day, led by the National Housing Federation, celebrated the value of supported housing in helping older and vulnerable people live independently while reducing costly health interventions.
The campaign highlights funding challenges and calls for urgent investment. We are pleased to support the initiative, working with providers to strengthen strategies and safeguard supported housing's future.
You may also be interested in this Learning Disability Today article. Written by Ian Copeman, Business Director at Housing LIN, it discusses the importance of person-centred planning and co-design, and explores several innovative housing schemes that provide valuable insights into best practice.
Resource Roundup
New Housing LIN blog by emh CEO, reflects on why care is a fundamental part of the group’s Mission
Ahead of this week’s Future Leaders Programme session, guest speaker Chan Kataria, CEO of emh, examines the evolving role of housing associations as community anchors in this new Housing LIN guest blog.
He highlights how emh integrates housing and care to support diverse residents, and how running a successful care business requires a clear mission, strategic commitment, and strong governance.
Housing LIN Viewpoint: All new housing should be accessible... What's the problem?
A new Housing LIN Viewpoint explores the failure of successive governments to implement Building Regulation M4(2) as the standard for all new homes.
Joan Rutherford, Chair of the Older People’s Housing Champions, highlights that excuses like cost and land constraints are unfounded, with modest per-home costs outweighed by long-term care savings.
Housing LIN remembers 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
We are delighted to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, a landmark law prohibiting discrimination against disabled people in employment, services, and housing.
To reflect on its legacy, we are pleased to publish a series of guest blogs from campaigners, policymakers, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience. These contributions explore the DDA’s influence and limitations on housing and the built environment.
A special HAPPI Hour webinar featuring contributors will take place on 11 November 2025, with further details to be announced.
What else caught our interest...
- A Vision of Ageing at Home: The Fabian Society and the Centre for Ageing Better announce new project
- BBC: Could co-housing scheme be template for future homes?
- Clarion Housing Group: Outstanding projects shortlisted for 2025 William Sutton Prize
- Local Government Association: LGA publishes guidance on supported housing for local authorities in England
- Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government: Changing the way government allocates Disabled Facilities Grant funding to local authorities in England
- RIBA: RIBA Reveals 2025 Neave Brown Award Shortlist for Outstanding Affordable Housing
- Sanctuary Supported Living: Streethay retirement community opens its doors and welcomes its first resident
- United for All Ages: Hope for all ages: Fifty ways to leave the world a better place by 2050
Dates for your Diary
Autumn/Winter HAPPI Hour webinars announced
We're back with a new HAPPI Hour webinar series, featuring expert-led sessions on key topics in housing and ageing.
Browse the full programme and register your free place today!
- Safe by Design: Fire safety in housing architecture and policy on 30th September 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- Almshouses Reimagined: Building strategic partnerships to evolve housing for today’s older communities on 7th October 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- Towards Age-Friendly Futures: Local practice and perspectives on 21st October 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- Driving Housing Delivery through Market Engagement on 28th October 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- 10 Years On: Reflecting on the Disability Discrimination Act and the road ahead on 11th November 2025, 3.30pm - 5pm
- Homes Built Together: Exploring Community-Led Housing & Cohousing on 18th November 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- Housing LIN Scotland Presents on 25th November 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- What the Housing Strategy means for supported and specialist housing on 2nd December 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- Becoming a Dementia-Friendly Organisation – Back to Basics on 9th December 2025, 4pm - 5pm
- Designing for Tomorrow: Future-Proof, Age-Friendly Homes on 16th December 2025, 4pm - 5pm
Events supported by the Housing LIN
- Habinteg Housing Association and Centre for Ageing Better: Forecast for accessible homes 2025: one decade on… milestone or millstone? on Wed 10th September 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
- Centre for Ageing Better: From access to outcomes: advancing equity in home improvement on Wed 15 October 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
Want to know what we're working on at Housing LIN?
From cutting-edge research with universities to creating tools that shape policy and practice, we’re driving innovation in the sector. Find out more!
We also offer tailored support to help you navigate today’s complex challenges, whether strategic or operational.
Let’s work together! Email us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or explore our Research and Advisory Services to learn more.