Postcode lottery for accessible homes to worsen in England over next decade, new research finds

The regional disparity for accessible and adaptable homes in England is set to widen over the next ten years, according to a new report by Habinteg Housing Association.

In the next decade, one new wheelchair user home is planned for every 210 Londoners compared with one for every 2,006 people in the North West of England.

Habinteg’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 North East, the region with the lowest ambition. In the capital, one M4(2) home is planned per 24 people, whereas this is one per 184 in the North East.

The report analysed accessible housing policies across 311 local plans in England, finding that 8.9% of all affordable homes are due to be be built to M4(3) wheelchair user standard, but this figure drops to 3.3% in the open market.

Meanwhile, four in 10 (41%) of all new homes being planned over the next ten-year period will not be built to the M4(2) standard, which encompasses enhanced access features and benefits, or the M4(3) standard, which meets the needs of a household with a wheelchair user.

Insight Group member at Habinteg 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.”

Although the M4(2) and M4(3) standards are optional for planning authorities, Habinteg’s analysis found that the majority of local plans now include some requirement for housing delivery to meet these standards.

Adoption of the standards has increased over the past five years, with 208 of the 311 local plans assessed containing requirements for a proportion of homes to be accessible, compared to 119 in 2020.

Christina McGill, Habinteg’s director of social impact and external affairs, 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.”