New Research Reveals Stark Regional Disparities for Wheelchair User Homeseekers
Wheelchair users in England still fare worst in the search for a home, with one new wheelchair user home being planned for every 2,006 people in the North West in the next decade compared with one for every 210 Londoners, new research reveals.
Habinteg Housing Association’s forecast for accessible homes 2025 also shows that the ambition for delivery of M4(2) accessible and adaptable homes in London is around 7.6 times higher than the region with the lowest ambition – the North East – with one home planned per 24 people in London and just one per 184 people in the North East.
The forecast analysed accessible housing policies across 311 local plans in England.
The report shows that the percentage of all affordable homes due to be M4(3) wheelchair user standard is 8.9%, but the percentage in the open market is less than half that at just 3.3%. Moreover, some local authorities aren’t planning to build wheelchair user homes in the open market at all.
Four in 10 (41%) of all new homes being planned over the next 10 years will not be built to the M4(2) accessible and adaptable standard or the M4(3) wheelchair user standard.
Of all regions, the North East currently makes the least provision of homes for its disabled population with just one new accessible home of any kind proposed per 156 residents over the next decade.
Habinteg’s Insight Group member and disability rights campaigner, Kerry Thompson, said: “As a disabled person living in an accessible property that meets my needs it scares me to think we are no closer to seeing a light at the end of something that should not be seen as a luxury.
“A roof over our heads should never be a privilege, it’s a fundamental human right. Every person deserves a place to call home. The numbers may tell a grim story, but our voices can rewrite the narrative. It’s crucial we work towards equitable housing for every individual, regardless of ability.”
There is some good news. If the country builds all the new homes currently planned under the optimum possible conditions, Habinteg calculates that 1.39 million more accessible and adaptable homes could be built by the end of the decade, which is a rise of 163% from 2020 when the forecast stood at 530,504.
The best-case scenario would also see over 106,119 new M4(3) wheelchair accessible homes built by 2035 compared to 45,000 in 2020, a 136% increase.
Habinteg’s Director of Social Impact and External Affairs, Christina McGill, said: “While it’s disappointing to see large variances regionally, it’s positive news that there is planning for greater numbers of both accessible and adaptable and wheelchair user homes.”
“This progress is likely due to the previous government’s pledge in 2022 to raise the accessibility standard of all new homes to the accessible and adaptable standard.
“This plan has not been implemented, so the current default for all new homes remains the M4(1) ‘visitable’ standard, which is not going to be adequate to meet the changing needs of the population.”
The forecast reveals an increase in use of the optional M4(2) accessible and adaptable and M4(3) wheelchair user dwelling standards over the past five years. And, in 2025, there are more accessible homes planned per head of population compared with the 2020 forecast.
The majority of local plans now include some requirement for M4(2) and M4(3) access standards.
Ms. McGill said: “It’s good news that newer local plans show greater determination to provide appropriate homes for disabled and older people but nevertheless the forecast shows a patchy outlook. This is why we need the government to make the M4(2) accessible and adaptable standard the baseline for all new homes in England and for local planning authorities to ensure targets are set and met for new accessible homes, including wheelchair user homes.
“This will be key in ensuring disabled and older people can live, not just exist, in their own home with the dignity and independence much of us take for granted, and ensure our future housing stock provides generations to come with a home for life.”
Fiona Howie, Chief Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, said: “It’s astonishing than two fifths of new homes will not meet the basic accessibility requirements in M4(2) and wheelchair access (M4(3) – especially with our ageing population.”
“There’s a wealth of guidance and good schemes that demonstrate how to meet those standards, and produce beautiful, inclusive and healthy homes. To help address regional variation, M4(2) must be applied comprehensively for all new homes. Furthermore, a set proportion of wheelchair accessible homes – defined by local need – should be applied for all tenures of new homes.”
