Over-65s boxed in by bungalow shortage

MILLIONS of retirees are unable to downsize from the family home due to a huge shortage of bungalows.

Housebuilder McCarthy and Stone has slammed current planning rules, claiming they restrict the number of one-storey homes being built by prioritising highdensity, high-rise developments.

And it has called on the Government to consider introducing allocations of age-restricted, bungalow-only sites in local plans.

The shortage comes despite a recent survey, carried out by the builder and YouGov, highlighting the popularity of one-storey homes among the older generation.

It found about 60 per cent of over65s – equivalent to about 7 million Britons – would consider moving to a bungalow.

Almost two-thirds of the 3,000 over-65s who responded to the survey said they want more bungalows to be built exclusively for older homebuyers, while seven in ten said they would enjoy living on one level, which makes it easier for those with mobility problems.

Yet there are only about 2 million bungalows in the whole of the UK – with just 2,418 built in 2018, industry figures show.

Britain’s ageing population means demand for bungalows is at an all-time high, with more than 12 million over-65s living in the country today. By 2068, the Office for national Statistics predicts this could rise by a further 8.2 million, roughly the population of london.

To cope with the demand for more manageable housing, McCarthy and Stone is also calling on ministers to consider making it obligatory to provide age-restricted bungalows as part of the housing mix in larger-scale developments.

It suggests building more onestorey houses would also give young families the chance to get on the property ladder by freeing up homes that are under-used by the older generation.

John Tonkiss, chief executive of McCarthy and Stone, said: ‘Bungalows are increasingly popular among older generations and should be a consideration for any drive to build more suitable housing. They are easier to maintain, are built with older people in mind and help maintain independence for longer.

‘Housing like this not only brings health and other benefits to older people, it also helps free up underutilised homes for younger generations. This shift can play a major part in helping solve the UK’s housing crisis.’

‘Help maintain independence’