Is London building the right homes for its changing population?

Riverstone is pleased to be working with Centre for London on new research looking at London's over 65s residents in depth and the extent to which the city is meeting their housing needs, now and in the future.  As part of our drive to become a leader in providing exceptional living for the over 65s in London, Riverstone is committed to working with think tanks such as Centre for London, policy makers and trade bodies to create the right conditions for growth and to meet projected needs. 

Centre for London’s  preliminary report ‘A place for Older People to Call Home’ has built a picture of who London’s older residents are, where they live and whether the capital is on track to provide appropriate homes for this growing demographic by 2030.  As stated in the report’s introduction, London is often conceived as a ‘young person’s city’ however, the fastest growing demographic is the over 65s which is forecast to rise by 30% over the next ten years, particularly in inner London boroughs.

The report states that planning for peoples’ housing needs is a complex task that must be supported by a detailed approach to understanding demographic indicators such as borough by borough population breakdowns and current housing provision.  Other data examined include gender, ethnicity, health and income – all important factors in determining housing needs.

Of particular interest, the report found that more older Londoners live in the outer boroughs, with some exceptions such as the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, but Inner London is projected to see a higher increase in the numbers, especially those just entering retirement.

The Mayor of London sets targets for specialist housing for older people in the London Plan and local authorities need to plan for the specialist housing needs of the elder generation.  According to the report, this is a pressing issue as Inner London has only built around 10% of its 10-year target in three years.  Outer London is doing better with 22% of its target, but the bulk of these have been built by a small number of outperforming boroughs such as Bexley, Harrow and Sutton. 

Planning approvals are similarly very low in the boroughs where Riverstone is currently active – the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham – and Riverstone is pleased to be playing a part in driving up provision in these areas.

Meanwhile, while London is considered to have enough care home bedrooms to meet demand, there is a shortfall in the number that are rated as ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.  Riverstone has formed a partnership with award-winning home care provider The Good Care Group which has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Commission in all five domains – safe, effective, caring, well-led and responsive to people’s needs.

A key part of the research is to gain a greater understanding of the different housing tenures in the sector, develop a coherent approach and provide support to bring forward better quality and choice.  The report looks at three different types of tenures: traditional housing on one end of the scale; specialised housing in the middle which provides varying levels of care and services; and at the other end of the scale homes that provide full residential care.

With the figures indicating that delivery needs to be escalated across all tenures, the forthcoming research will aim to explore new and innovative new models to cater for different needs across the board.  As part of our involvement we expect that housing with care models or retirement communities such as Riverstone’s, is set to become an increasingly attractive option for Londoners wanting to maintain independence whilst having access to care services.

The development of the right policy and practical solutions will be key to ensuring London meets the challenge of building the right homes in the right places.  It is felt that by doing so, many more Londoners will be benefit from greater independence and fulfilment in their later years.