It’s the economy, stupidPeter BrownHerefordshire Housing

Life expectancy has been growing steadily for over half a century. In 1951, a man aged 65 could expect on average to live to the age of 77. Today, he can expect to live to 86, and by 2050 to 91.

• 59% aged 85 and over and 38% aged 75 to 84 live alone

• Widowed or separated/divorced are 3 times more likely to feel lonely than married

• Renting in local authority or housing association most likely to feel lonely.

Living Alone and Loneliness

• 75% (4.6m) households 65 and over owner occupied (64% of the general population)

• over-50s hold 66% of all housing wealth (£2.5 trillion)• A significant cohort of homeowners do not want to move house in

older age, instead will make changes to their current home

• 25% of over-55s said they wanted to move into some sort of retirement housing in the future. This equates to around 2.5 million households

• Only 3% of new housing planning permissions specifically for ‘elderly’ or ‘sheltered’ accommodation.

Housing

• Growing number older people• Austerity leading to diminishing quality of life• Increasing loneliness• Concentration of assets• Reluctance to move• Yet lack of provision

Battle of need versus demand

• Somebody Else’ Problem• Money• Votes• Digital• Expectation and aspirations• Intergenerational asset transfer

What are the Obstacles?

Henffordd Gardens

• Look local.• Start with existing stock.• Analyse the local market.• Plan and resource effective marketing.• Work from the lived experience - loneliness and social

isolation.• Make attractive to those considering downsizing.• Flexibility.

What can be done?