Comment

Representation ID: 22134

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: M Scott Properties Ltd

Agent: Strutt & Parker LLP

The Draft Strategy acknowledgs at paragraph 245 that an increasing proportion of the population is over 65 or disabled, increasing the demand for supported accommodation. The Plan seeks to assist Norfolk County Council’s aim to ‘reduce residential care home and nursing home dependency and support people to remain more independent in their own homes or in supporte housing’.

This approach is supported in both National Policy and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). In particular the ‘Housing for Older and Disabled People’ PPG, which requires plan makers to consider the diverse needs of older people, including those approaching retirement. The PPG also states that 'Plan-making authorities should set clear policies to address the housing needs of groups with particular needs such as older and disabled people' (Paragraph: 006 Reference ID: 63-006-20190626). We support the Draft Strategy’s recognition of the need to provide suitable homes in the right locations. A lack of availability of suitable accommodation forces people to move away from friends and family to find a property more suited to their needs, or, to make costly adaptions to their own homes.

In order to ensure an adequate provision of specialist housing, Scott Properties believe that Policy 5 – Homes should encourage a range of properties to suit a variety of needs, and specific allocations or requirements within site specific policies should be made for specialist housing, and portions of allocations such as Land between Shelfanger and Mount Street, Diss should be set aside for specialist housing. This will ensure that a varied type of housing can come forward to meet the diverse needs of older people as set out in PPG and provide choice for those in later life, which can include:
- Age-restricted general market housing
- Retirement living or sheltered housing
- Extra care housing or housing-with-care

To ensure a variety of the housing, as identified within PPG above is delivered within Greater Norwich, the Plan should make specific allocations as opposed to just a generic housing mix policy that requires a diverse mix of housing. General housebuilders do not build specialist housing, and by providing housing that is deemed as suitable for older people that is also available to the general housing market does not adddress the varied and diverse needs of older people, or those with a disability.

We would draw attention to the recent interim findings of the Inspector following the examination of the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan, which states:
'The Plan as submitted seeks to address the needs of older people through Policy SCLP5.8 Housing Mix. The Policy however, whilst supporting the provision of housing for older people, does not address clearly the significant need identified and would not be effective in delivering the market or affordable housing units for older people required. The Policy and supporting text should be amended to set out how the housing needs of older people will be addressed through the provision of housing and to boost the supply of this type of housing.'

We would therefore encourage the Council to consider the merits of allocating specific sites for specialist accommodation within the Greater Norwich Local Plan. It is vitally important that suitable housing is provided to meet the needs of an ageing population.

Approximately 24 single-storey properties specifically designed for those aged 55 and over as well as those with or supporting someone with a disability are proposed at Land between Shelfanger and Mount Street, Diss (as shown on the accompanying indicative masterplan). Providing this type of accommodation in a central town location, allows people to move to a property better suited to their current or future needs, whilst remaining close to friends and family.

At present, the retirement housing market is dominated by a handful of providers who typically produce flatted developments within town centres for those approaching the later years of their lives (predominantly 75+ years of age). This results in a lack of choice and highly inflated prices for those aged 75+, who are looking to move to a property more suited to their current or future needs but also wish to remain close to friends and family. Needless to say, the couples and individuals who are of the 60-75 age bracket are left with no alternative housing option, other than making costly adaptations to their existing property.

Extensive research has shown a number of benefits arising from the provision of suitable specialist accommodation for the older population. The lack of suitable alternative and attractive accommodation acts as a significant barrier to down-sizing for the over 55s. Providing such accommodation will facilitate the release of under-occupied housing through downsizing. This will free up more housing in the locality for families, thus reducing the pressures on the local authority to make provisions for additional housing and costly adaptations to their existing housing stock.

The proposed development could make contribution to not only accessible and specialist housing but also much need affordable and market housing within the Greater Norwich area in a sustainable location. As such we consider the GNLP should reconsider our client’s site Land between Shelfanger and Mount Street, Diss and include it as an alloaction in the Regulation 19 Draft Plan.