HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
1 June 2026
Welcome back to this week's Housing LIN newsletter, HLINKs!
As Pride Month begins, it is an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate LGBTQ+ older adults and reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive housing, health and care services where everyone can age with dignity, visibility and belonging.
There is still time to book your place at tomorrow's (02/06/2026 from 4pm - 5pm) HAPPI Hour webinar, "Pride in Place: Celebrating Inclusive Housing & LGBTQ+ Community Initiatives".
We will be joined by Charlotte Cook (Winckworth Sherwood LLP), Jude Leighton (United St Saviour's Charity), Professor Andrew King (University of Surrey) and Dr Georgia Bowers (University of Surrey), who will share insights on inclusive housing, LGBTQ+ communities and creating places where everyone can thrive as they age.
While last week's weather created plenty of hotspots, here are the stories that really heated up the housing, health and care sector:
- Briefing of the Government's Guidance on the Affordable Homes Programme by Winckworth Sherwood
- HAPPI Hour webinar recording on global accessibility and inclusive design in practice
- More's Meadows almshouses wins a RIBA East regional award
- New design guide by HOUSE on Space For Wellbeing
- New "Inclusive Cities" study findings towards an inclusive urban environment
- Two new Housing LIN guest blogs: reflections from Sovereign Network Group on supporting the Housing LIN Future Leaders Programme, and a summary from the Dementia and Housing Working Group of our recent HAPPI Hour webinar, Dementia Friendly Fun.
And lots more that caught our interest!
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our learning community.
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Best wishes, The Housing LIN Team |
News Highlights
More's Meadows almshouses wins a RIBA East regional award
Congratulations to architects Haysom Ward Miller for their stunning almshouses design for Great Shelford Village Charity in Cambridgeshire.
More's Meadow Almshouses, a community-led development of 21 homes, featured in Housing LIN Case Study (No.174).
Resource Roundup
Designing for Everyone: Global Accessibility & Inclusive Design in Practice
Marking Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2026, last week's HAPPI Hour webinar brought together leading voices to explore how inclusive design can better serve all citizens.
From accessible housing innovations to age-inclusive thinking and practical guidance for creating age-friendly environments, our speakers share insights, research and real-world examples.
Summary of Guidance of the Affordable Homes Programme
We are pleased to publish this new Housing LIN briefing, in partnership with Winckworth Sherwood LLP, summarising the Government’s 2026–2036 Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
Aimed at supported housing providers and local authority commissioners, the paper outlines the latest capital funding arrangements for affordable, specialist and supported housing in England, including programmes delivered through Homes England and the Greater London Authority.
New design guide on space for wellbeing
This new guide, Space for Wellbeing, based on research in Belgium by HOUSE, questions how can we design homes that truly contribute to the wellbeing of (future) older adults?
It proposes a shared language and a set of design drivers for architects, designers, housing professionals, researchers and policymakers working on housing and ageing to address the quality of housing and the wellbeing of residents.
The Government has updated its concise set of design requirements and good-practice guidance
The Government has published (updated in May 2026) this concise set of design requirements and good-practice guidance, intended to be used by Homes England, their development partners, and design consultants involved in the funding, commissioning, development, planning, and design of new homes, to support the delivery of accessible and healthier living environments.
Rethinking public space design for people with visual disabilities: Towards an inclusive urban environment
From the "Inclusive Cities" special issue of Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning, this Italian study examines the perceptions of people with visual disabilities and how multisensory components can enhance the inclusivity of environments.
The article highlights design solutions that improve the usability of spaces and finds that disabled people must be considered as decision-makers, especially in architecture.
Expert Insights
Proud to work in Housing
This new Housing LIN guest blog by Andrew Cooper, Head of Funding and Social Value at Sovereign Network Group, features his reflections on the experience of supporting the Housing LIN Future Leaders Programme, his pride in a career in housing and the inspiring leadership lessons shared across the programme.
Fun is not the opposite of professionalism – it’s the foundation of wellbeing
Ali Rogan, external affairs advisor of the Dementia and Housing Working Group (DHWG), chaired the recent DHWG HAPPI Hour webinar on Dementia Friendly Fun, timed to coincide with Dementia Action Week 2026.
In this blog, she reflects on the webinar, unpacking the standout insights, memorable moments and powerful messages that continue to spark conversation long after the event itself.
What else caught our interest...
- ADASS research article: Shaping the adult social care research agenda – building on the ADASS Spring Seminar 2026
- Age Irrelevance blog - House buying portals need greater awareness of what their customers are looking for
- Almshouse Association case study: Robert Cocks Almshouse improvement works
- Centre for Ageing Better article - New towns must be designed with young and old in mind
- Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee report: Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill
- Humanise article: Bare minimum is not enough: why where we live matters
- Northern Housing article: Torus starts work on Sefton eco extra care schemes
- Placeshapers article - Lessons from Housing 21 – building homes and communities for an ageing population
- TCPA briefing: Hot Housing: Why is the government still permitting overheated office conversions?
- The Intermediary article: Accessible rental homes failing to keep up with demand from older and disabled tenants – Propertymark
- Tunstall news: Tunstall Healthcare appoints new head of B2C programme
- WWA Studios project news - Bulmer House
Dates for your diary
HAPPI Hour webinars
- Pride in Place: Celebrating inclusive housing & LGBTQ+ community initiatives on 2nd June, 4pm - 5pm
- SHAPE Exchange: Designing homes and communities that reduce isolation and build connection on 9th June, 4pm - 5pm
- Showcasing community-led housing projects – designing with community in mind on 30th June, 4pm - 5pm
- Technology-enabled, co-designed housing for better later living on 7th July, 4pm - 5pm
- Housing LIN Scotland – A manifesto for older people’s housing on 14th July, 4pm - 5pm
While free to attend for Housing LIN members, spaces are limited. Reserve your place today and join us for inspiring conversations, fresh insights and engaging ideas.
Events supported by the Housing LIN
- Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre: Launch of the Smart Home Digital Blueprint, 2 June, from 1pm - 2:30pm
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