The Lifetime Homes Standard sets out 16 Design Criteria that can be universally applied to new homes at minimal cost. They aim to make new homes more comfortable and convenient, and support the changing needs of individuals and families at different life stages. Kent and Medway support this approach.
Why Lifetime Homes are Good for Kent and Medway
Lifetime Homes are all about flexibility and adaptability. We want to see homes that make life easier to manage for our residents as their needs change over time, from raising small children to coping with illness or dealing with reduced mobility in later life.
As a County, the inherent flexibility of Lifetime Homes means we can accommodate the changing needs of our growing and ageing population in Kent and Medway, reducing our need to build specialised housing in future and encouraging social cohesion.
Why Lifetime Homes are Good for Developers
Lifetime Homes are outwardly completely ordinary; they’re not ‘special’, so you can market them to everyone. However, because they’re also suitable for older people and the vast majority of people with disabilities, you can reach a wider range of potential buyers, making them easier to sell and potentially increasing their value.
When applied correctly, the design criteria can make homes feel more spacious, adding to their appeal in high-density developments. However, Lifetime Homes rarely require more actual physical space, so your overall density shouldn’t be affected.
The Lifetime Homes Standard
The Lifetime Homes Standard seeks to enable ‘general needs’ housing to provide, either from the outset or through simple and cost-effective adaptation, design solutions that meet the existing and changing needs of diverse households. A Lifetime Home will meet the requirements of a wide range of households, including families with push chairs as well as some wheelchair users.
The revised Lifetime Homes Standard, published in 2010, makes it easier for volume developers to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes. At present, all housing built to level six of the Code must comply with the Lifetime Homes Standard. Homes built to lower levels can obtain four additional credits if they satisfy the Lifetime Homes criteria.
Lifetime Homes and Part M
Part M of the Building Regulations relates to accessibility at the property entrance level. The Lifetime Homes Standard goes further, making properties adaptable for differing households’ accessibility needs. You’ll find the differences and extra requirements, where applicable, under the 16 Design Criteria on the Lifetime Homes website.