First look at the NPPF (16/12/25): welcome and positive steps from Government to embed the needs of an ageing population in national planning policy. As Chair of the #OPHT Taskforce, I’m encouraged by the stronger focus on older people and inclusive placemaking. #DraftNPPF

What happens now to National Housing Strategy and @AngelaRayner response to Older People’s Housing recommendations? Couldn’t make it up - Minister for Housing changed part way through, final report submitted day before election announced and in danger of not being read, now this!

@bsky.app Today @MHCLG wrote to @AngelaRayner to see whether and when the Government will respond to the findings of the #OPHTreport in full? Hopefully National Housing Strategy will be released shortly and address the needs of our ageing population. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

So good to celebrate new leaders in housing, health and social care. Also looking forward to seeing if imminent National Housing Strategy addresses the needs of our ageing and increasingly more diverse population.

Fab @housinglin.bsky.social reception celebrating our 2024/25 achievements & presenting Futures Leaders with certificates. Thanks to Lord Best, @juliennemeyer.bsky.social & Susan Kay @vivensa.bsky.social for supportive words + sponsors/guests for making it a special day. Read the write up soon!

Delighted to have opportunity to share where Government is at (or not) with Implementing the Older People’s Housing Taskforce recently recommendations committees.parliament.uk/event/24638/...

So good to see you too!

Are you passionate about helping people make informed, unbiased decisions about their future? Well, this CEO role with Elderly Accommodation Counsel might be the one for you. For more information contact: [email protected]

Looking forward to delivering my keynote on: “Why the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report should be the centrepiece of housing policy” at Housing LIN Conference 2025 in Leeds, where I trained many years ago as a nurse. @HousingLIN #HLINconf25

Good to see the OPH sector working proactively and collaboratively today on one of the #OPHTreport recommendations (call for new tenure models). Congratulations to @McCarthyStone for leading the way on Commonhold and @ARCOtweets on Retirement Occupancy Contracts.

I look forward to the New Year when I hope the NPPG will promote: 1. OPH/LLH 2. Language 3. Allocation of land 4. Age-friendly and inclusive placemaking 5. Contribution of OP & H&SC workers housing contributes to overall numbers Merry Xmas! For solutions: #OPHFTreport

Older people are “burying their heads”. Why? • psychological barriers • difficulty disentangling housing needs from future health • lack of awareness about options • cost & affordability, • availability of suitable housing. See #OPHTreport

Q; Why does older people’s housing matter? A: Many senior citizens living in unsuitable homes for ageing In UK, 91% of >65s live in mainstream housing. Only 12% level access & 46% bathroom at entry level, <50% Energy Efficiency Rating D or below. Solutions: see #OPHTreport

Research for Taskfroce found that, using traditional leasehold ownership models, assisted living (such as provided in retirement villages) has been unaffordable for many, due to both the upfront purchase price & the on-going charges for the services provided. See #OPHTreport

Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: Low awareness of the benefits of OPH/LLH OPH/LLH improves wellbeing & quality of life, reduces the chances of entering long-term care & provides significant cost-benefits to the NHS and local authority adult social care #OPHTreport

With thanks to Lord Best for asking His Majesty's Government when they will implement the recommendations of the report from the Older People's Housing Taskforce, published on 26 November. To see the debate on #OPHTreport, please see hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-1...

Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: A troubling lack of supply of purpose-built OPH/LLH Building the 50K homes needed, out of the 300K new homes built annually, is a radical departure from present housing policy which focuses on first-time buyers. See: #OPHTreport

Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: Many senior citizens living alone, in under-occupied housing Nearly 9 in 10 people aged 65-79 live in under-occupied housing, with over 50% living in homes with two or more excess bedrooms. See #OPHTreport

No media star, but at least @AbdulARavat & I profiled the #OPHTreport and need for faith and culture-sensitive housing & neighbourhoods on BBC Radio 4 'Sunday' today. Interview was cut short, but at least shared estimated need for 30-50K new later living homes-only build 7K/yr.

Good news - speaking alongside @AbdulRavat on BBC Radio 4 'Sunday' programme (15th Dec @ 7am) about #OPHTreport & need for faith & culturally-sensitive homes and neighbourhoods. Older people are highly diverse in their needs, wishes, backgrounds & identities. More choice needed.

Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: We have an increasingly diverse older population Since 2011, the older population is more diverse in terms of ethnicity, religion & country of birth (8% of current UK >65 residents were born outside the UK). Solutions: #OPHTreport

Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: We have an ageing population. 11 million people (18.6%) are >65 yrs, compared with 16.4% in 2014. By 2066, projected 8.3 million (26%) – broadly equivalent to the size of the population of London today. For solutions: #OPHTreport

Rec 10/10 - Create collective leadership to drive change. To achieve a step change, we need to inspire & empower ambitious action, from the top of government & outwards to communities & families. We need to fully integrate housing health & care at all levels . See #OPHTreport

Rec 9/10 - Enhance innovation, research & professional development. There are gaps in our knowledge of senior citizens' needs & what works to meet them. A strategic approach is essential to generate & embed the greatest value from private & publicly funded research. #OPHTreport

Rec 8/10 - Build consumer confidence. To increase demand, we need to build consumer trust & confidence in a range of different types of housing; & to increase supply we need to provide regulatory clarity for providers and potential investors. What do you think? See #OPHTreport

Interview on Sunday for BBC Radio 4 has been rescheduled for 15th Dec. Why am I feeling a sense of déjà vu? Is #OPHTreport being kicked into the long grass again? Watch this space. Listen next week at 7am for more on age-friendly & inclusive homes & neighbourhoods.

Looking forward to speaking alongside @AbdulRavat on this week's BBC Radio 4 programme (Sunday) about #OPHTreport & need for faith & culturally-sensitive homes and neighbourhoods. Older people are highly diverse in their needs, wishes, backgrounds & identities. More choice needed

Rec 7/10 - Establish a national information platform & local hubs For people to take up options they must first understand what they offer, what would best meet their needs & how to take them up. Accurate & trusted sources are vital. What do you think? #OPHTreport

Rec 6/10 – Strengthen planning policies National & local planning policy & practice can incentivise & accelerate the development of new forms of OHP/LLH; & help shape mainstream housing & the built environment to be more age-friendly & inclusive. Thoughts? See #OPHTreport

Rec 5/10: Expand OPH/LLH at scale and ensure it is affordable to live in, and viable to finance, build and operate. To increase supply, we need to create greater incentives for inward investment, including private and public sector capital support Thoughts? See #OPHTreport

Rec 4/10 - Create age-friendly, dementia-inclusive, faith and culture-sensitive communities. Because the community beyond the front door - the built environment, local infrastructure, communities & mutual support - enables people to live independently & well What do you think?

Recommendation 3/10 - Ensure more housing is designed for later life We've a growing ageing population & housing stock that does not meet their needs. We need to optimise all forms of OPH including mainstream housing, community-led housing & service-led housing See #OPHTreport

Rec. 2/10 – Incentivise a wide range of OPH/LLH options. Senior citizens are not a homogeneous group. They are highly diverse in their needs, wishes, backgrounds and identities. Meaningful choice must be available and accessible to all. What do you think? See #OPHTFreport

Recommendation 1/10 – Standardise definitions To enable partnership working across the private and public sectors and to build public understanding of what’s available, we need to be speaking the same language. What do you think? See #OPHTreport for suggested typology

I am happy to inform you that the Older People’s Housing Taskforce Report is now published (gov.uk/government/p... ), with a written ministerial statement (questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat... ). With thanks to all those involved. From questions-statements.parliament.uk