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ID sylw: 106477

Derbyniwyd: 28/02/2025

Ymatebydd: McCarthy Stone and Churchill Living

Asiant : The Planning Bureau Ltd

The draft policy requires the submission of a Health Impact Assessment for planning applications for major development. The Council should note that there is a common misconception that older person’s housing places an additional burden on healthcare infrastructure and therefore rather than requiring applicants of older person’s schemes to show that there is capacity in healthcare systems and to show that the scheme will not have a health impact, the policy should instead recognise the health benefits that delivering older people’s housing can bring to individuals.
In addition, specifically designed housing for older people offers significant opportunities to enable residents to be as independent as possible in a safe and warm environment. Older homes are typically in a poorer state of repair, are often colder, damper, have more risk of fire and fall hazards. They lack in adaptions such as handrails, wider internal doors, stair lifts and walk in showers. Without these simple features everyday tasks can become harder and harder.

Recommendation:
For the plan to be in line with national policy and effective the following wording should be added to para 2 of the policy to recognise the health benefits of older persons housing. Specialist Housing for older people has a number of health benefits and proposals for such schemes will not be required to submit a Health Impact Assessment