Solihull plans to make every big housing development include homes for older people

Solihull Council is planning ahead for a sharp rise in its oldest residents, with a draft local plan that would require every large new housing development in the borough to include homes designed for older people.

The approach was set out to councillors on the council's economic development, managed growth and skills scrutiny board at the Civic Suite on 3 November, as reported by Birmingham Live on 9 November.

An ageing borough

Solihull has an older age profile than the national average, and a report to the board said growth was "particularly strong" among residents aged 75 and over. The council's own assessment found that:

The number of residents aged 65 or over is projected to rise from 48,219 to 58,010 by 2043, an increase of 9,791 people, or 20.3%.

The number aged 75 or over is expected to grow by 7,129, or 27.5%, to reach 33,049.

The number aged 85 or over is projected to rise by 52.5%, from 7,269 to 11,082.

The report said the evidence "demonstrates the need for a range of housing options, from accessible mainstream housing and support to remain at home through to retirement housing, extra care and residential and nursing care."

By 2043, the assessment says the borough will need an extra 712 units of housing with support, of which 435 would be sold on the open market and 278 would be affordable, plus 376 units of housing with care.

Every big development to play its part

Officer Mark Collyer told councillors that the number of accommodation units being provided had fallen "quite significantly" since Covid, but said the draft local plan, which is currently out for public consultation, aims to make sure the borough is "futureproof".

"What we are doing within the plan is saying all developments of 300 dwellings or more must provide specialist housing," he said. "That's hopefully going to allow us to provide these older persons accommodations more across the borough."

Getting the right homes in the right places

Councillors welcomed the planning but pressed for detail. Councillor Max McLoughlin said provision needed to be "where the need is, and it's the right provision", warning that too much concentrated in one area would put pressure on infrastructure and on the local supply of care workers.

Another member of the board, Councillor Thomas, said there was "a perception very much at the moment" that there was too much retirement accommodation, but that having read the report she could see more would be needed in the long term. She asked whether existing care homes were at risk of closing in the meantime. The officer said the council held regular conversations with housing providers and would check the point had been considered.

Have your say

Because the requirement is in the draft local plan, residents still have the chance to comment on it. Solihull's consultation is open now, and anyone with a view on how the borough should house its older residents, from bungalows and adapted homes to extra-care schemes, can respond through Solihull Council's website before it closes.