Housing ResearchNumber 246

December 2011

housing

Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Practice Examples

Summary ResourceIntroduction

Recognising the importance of neighbourhood as a determinant of well-being in later life and its crucial role in supporting older people’s independence, the Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York to explore and develop the idea of a ‘lifetime neighbourhood’, and search out and present examples of how the idea has been taken forward in different parts of the country.

This summary describes the key elements that make up a lifetime neighbourhood, and sets out how individual residents, communities, local government, practitioners, councillors, the voluntary sector and the private sector can become involved and contribute to the development of lifetime neighbourhoods.

The summary also includes a checklist which sets out a range of issues that residents might want to consider as part of a community planning processes and the development of neighbourhood plans. It aims to focus thinking about how well the design of neighbourhoods and access to services work for different groups within neighbourhoods and to prompt reflection on the kind of issues that residents may want to consider in terms of how neighbourhoods and services might need to look in response to a growing older population in coming decades.

Housing Research Summary Number 246 2

The summary is intended as a resource to highlight a range of examples and sources of information that show how individuals and agencies nationally and internationally are addressing various aspects of lifetime neighbourhoods.

What is a lifetime neighbourhood?

Figure 1 (page 3) sets out the main components that make up a lifetime neighbourhood, and includes:

• supporting residents to develop lifetime neighbourhoods – especially resident empowerment

• access

• services and amenities

• built and natural environments

• social networks/well-being

• housing

Figures 2-7 illustrate a range of practice examples and resources that are available un-der each heading. The resources and examples listed are not exhaustive by any means, and are intended to illustrate the type of activities that are taking place. The full report describes in more detail the rationale for lifetime neighbourhoods, as well as describing practice examples in a range of different urban and rural contexts, in order to highlight the way in which features of lifetime neighbourhoods are being tackled in these diverse areas.Figure 2 (Page 4) – Resident Empowerment/Supporting Residents to Develop Lifetime Neighbourhoods

Figure 3 (Page 8) – Access

Figure 4 (Page 11) – Services and Amenities

Figure 5 (Page 13) – Built and Natural Environments

Figure 6 (Page 16) – Social Networks/Well Being

Figure 7 (Page 18) – Housing

Checklist (Page 21) – Looking at Lifetime Neighbourhoods

3 Housing Research Summary Number 246

Fig

ure

1 L

ifet

ime

Nei

gh

bo

urh

oo

ds:

Key

Co

mp

on

ents

Lifetime Neighbourhoods

Bu

ilt a

nd

nat

ura

len

viro

nm

ents

Soci

al n

etw

ork

s/w

ell-

bei

ng

Res

iden

tem

po

wer

men

t

Serv

ices

an

d a

men

itie

s

Ho

usi

ng

Publ

ic S

ecto

r

Volu

ntar

y C

omm

unity

and

Soci

alEn

terp

rise

Sect

or

Indi

vidu

als

Priv

ate

Sect

or

Supporting residents to develop lifetime neighbourhoods

Resi

dent

-led

activ

ities

to

plan

/del

iver

/eva

luat

e fe

atur

es o

f lif

etim

ene

ighb

ourh

oods

. Act

ions

by

com

mun

ity/v

olun

tary

/pub

lic/p

rivat

e se

ctor

sth

at e

mpo

wer

res

iden

ts t

o br

ing

abou

t th

e de

velo

pmen

t an

dm

aint

enan

ce o

f fe

atur

es o

f lif

etim

e ne

ighb

ourh

oods

.

Enab

le r

esid

ents

to

get

out

and

abou

t in

the

are

as in

whi

ch t

hey

live

–bo

th p

hysi

cally

and

virt

ually

– a

nd c

onne

ct w

ith o

ther

peo

ple

and

serv

ices

in t

he im

med

iate

nei

ghbo

urho

od a

nd b

eyon

d.

Nei

ghbo

urho

ods

with

a m

ix o

f res

iden

tial,

reta

il an

d em

ploy

men

t us

es.

Aff

orda

ble

acce

ss t

o a

rang

e of

ser

vice

s su

ch a

s he

alth

, pos

t of

fices

,ba

nkin

g fa

cilit

ies

or c

ash

mac

hine

s.

Built

env

ironm

ents

tha

t pr

omot

e sa

fe, i

nclu

sive

acc

ess

to k

ey s

ervi

ces

and

faci

litie

s. O

utdo

or s

pace

s an

d bu

ildin

gs t

hat

prom

ote

soci

al c

onta

ct.

Loca

lly a

cces

sibl

e gr

eens

pace

, and

aff

orda

ble

acce

ss t

o na

tura

len

viro

nmen

ts.

Info

rmal

/for

mal

opp

ortu

nitie

s an

d ac

tiviti

es (s

ocia

l, le

arni

ng/t

rain

ing,

volu

ntee

ring)

, whe

re p

eopl

e fe

el s

afe

and

confi

dent

and

whi

ch re

spec

tan

d re

flect

the

nee

ds o

f di

ffer

ent

ages

, cul

ture

s an

d et

hnic

ities

.

A r

ange

of

affo

rdab

le h

ousi

ng c

hoic

es b

ased

on

incl

usiv

e de

sign

prin

cipl

es in

ord

er t

o m

eet

the

occu

pant

s’ n

eeds

acr

oss

the

lifec

ours

e –

spac

e/la

yout

with

in h

omes

des

igne

d to

mee

t ch

angi

ng n

eeds

.

Acc

ess

Housing Research Summary Number 246 4

Supporting residents to develop lifetime neighbourhoods: resident empowerment (see Figure 2)

How lifetime neighbourhoods are achieved is just as important as what is done to bring about necessary changes. Residents stand at the centre of achieving change within the areas in which they live. Whilst it is not possible to be prescriptive about the specific features of lifetime neighbourhoods that should be developed in all areas, the overarching principle needs to be that of resident empowerment. This involves public sector, private sector, voluntary and community organisations working in such a way that residents of any age are enabled to:

• set out their needs and concerns

• identify priorities for action within their own areas

• work towards bringing about change and delivery themselves, and/or,

• make the case for the range of services that they want others to deliver into their communities.

5 Housing Research Summary Number 246

FIG

UR

E 2:

KEY

TH

EME:

SU

PPO

RTIN

G R

ESID

ENTS

TO

DEV

ELO

P LI

FETI

ME

NEI

GH

BO

UR

HO

OD

S

Des

crip

tio

n o

f ap

pro

ach

Exam

ple

s an

d fu

rth

er in

form

atio

n

Resi

dent

-led

Dev

elop

men

t of r

esid

ent-

led

defin

ition

of l

ifetim

e ne

ighb

ourh

oods

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Lond

on Te

nant

s’ F

eder

atio

n (L

TF):

deve

lopm

ent o

f ow

n de

finiti

on o

f lif

etim

e ne

ighb

ourh

oods

(htt

p:/

/ucl

just

spac

e.w

ord

pre

ss.c

om

/200

7-ju

st-s

pac

e-b

riefi

ng

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etim

e-n

eig

hb

ou

rho

od

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08/)

G

uida

nce

in u

nder

taki

ng

Com

mun

ity le

d pl

anni

ngC

ase

Exam

ple

– A

ctio

n fo

r Com

mun

ities

in R

ural

Eng

land

(AC

RE) h

as se

t out

a st

ep

by st

ep g

uide

for c

omm

uniti

es to

invo

lve

all s

ectio

ns o

f the

com

mun

ity a

nd c

over

s all

mat

ters

that

aff

ect t

heir

qual

ity o

f life

in a

loca

l are

a, p

artic

ular

ly th

ose

that

nee

d m

ost

supp

ort w

ww

.acr

e.o

rg.u

k/o

ur-

wo

rk/c

om

mu

nit

y-le

d-p

lan

nin

g).

Eval

uatio

n of

com

mun

ities

/ne

ighb

ourh

oods

to a

sses

s ‘ag

e fr

iend

lines

s’ a

gain

st se

t crit

eria

Resi

dent

/com

mun

ity g

roup

/vo

lunt

ary

sect

or p

artn

ersh

ip

wor

king

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Dev

elop

men

t of a

n ‘a

ge-f

riend

ly’ a

ctio

n pl

an –

Eas

tleig

h So

uthe

rn

Paris

hes O

lder

Peo

ple’

s For

um. A

met

hod

for f

ocus

ing

thin

king

at l

ocal

leve

l abo

ut th

e ra

nge

and

type

of i

ssue

s tha

t go

into

mak

ing

up a

n ‘a

ge-f

riend

ly n

eigh

bour

hood

’ and

th

at c

ould

be

inco

rpor

ated

into

com

mun

ity le

d pl

anni

ng a

ppro

ache

s suc

h as

par

ish

plan

s: w

ww

.esp

op

f.o

rg/

Furt

her I

nfor

mat

ion

– N

atio

nal A

ssoc

iatio

n fo

r Nei

ghbo

urho

od M

anag

emen

t w

ww

.nei

gh

bo

urh

oo

dm

anag

emen

t.n

et/i

nd

ex.p

hp

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– C

omm

unity

Dev

elop

men

t Fou

ndat

ion

ww

w.c

df.

org

.uk/

Volu

ntar

y se

ctor

Volu

ntar

y se

ctor

del

iver

y at

lo

cal l

evel

, or t

he d

evel

opm

ent

of re

sour

ces s

uch

as to

olki

ts to

as

sist

nei

ghbo

urho

od c

hang

e

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– H

elp

the

Age

d (2

008)

Tow

ards

Com

mon

Gro

und:

The

Hel

p th

e A

ged

Man

ifest

o fo

r Life

time

Nei

ghbo

urho

ods (

Lond

on: H

elp

the

Age

d).

Paris

h an

d to

wn

coun

cils

Gra

ssro

ots g

over

nanc

ePa

rish

and

tow

n co

unci

ls w

ill h

ave

a cr

ucia

l rol

e in

faci

litat

ing

a co

nsid

erat

ion

of

plan

ning

for a

gro

win

g ol

der p

opul

atio

n as

wel

l as a

chie

ving

life

time

neig

hbou

rhoo

d fe

atur

es a

s par

t of c

omm

unity

pla

nnin

g. F

urth

er in

form

atio

n –

Nat

iona

l Ass

ocia

tion

of

Loca

l Cou

ncils

: ww

w.n

alc.

go

v.u

k

Housing Research Summary Number 246 6

FIG

UR

E 2:

KEY

TH

EME:

Su

pp

ort

ing

resi

den

ts to

dev

elo

p li

feti

me

nei

gh

bo

urh

oo

ds (continued)

Des

crip

tio

n o

f ap

pro

ach

Exam

ple

s an

d fu

rth

er in

form

atio

n

Loca

l aut

horit

y ap

proa

ches

Plan

ning

and

del

iver

ing

chan

ge

thro

ugh

loca

l aut

horit

ies

The

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent I

mpr

ovem

ent a

nd D

evel

opm

ent w

ebsi

te p

rovi

des a

nd sh

ares

go

od p

ract

ice

for l

ocal

aut

horit

ies o

n a

rang

e of

issu

es in

clud

ing

impr

ovin

g se

rvic

es fo

r ol

der p

eopl

e. T

he A

gein

g W

ell p

rogr

amm

e ha

s a ra

nge

of to

ols,

pra

ctic

e ex

ampl

es a

nd

even

ts fo

r pro

mot

ing

neig

hbou

rhoo

d ch

ange

w

ww

.idea

.go

v.u

k/id

k/co

re/p

age.

do

?pag

eId

=203

4465

5.

The

Plan

ning

Adv

isory

Ser

vice

has

pro

vide

d pr

actic

e gu

idan

ce fo

r loc

al a

utho

ritie

s for

pl

anni

ng, p

lace

bas

ed d

evel

opm

ent,

wor

king

with

com

mun

ities

and

mee

ting

the

need

s of

old

er p

eopl

e w

ww

.pas

.go

v.u

k/p

as/c

ore

/pag

e.d

o?p

ageI

d=1

Nor

ther

n H

ousi

ng C

onso

rtiu

m (2

010)

A g

uide

to a

ge-f

riend

ly c

omm

uniti

es in

the

Nor

th: p

eopl

e an

d pl

aces

202

0. S

unde

rland

: Nor

ther

n H

ousi

ng C

onso

rtiu

m L

td.

Dep

artm

ent f

or W

ork

and

Pens

ions

w

ww

.dw

p.g

ov.

uk/

po

licy/

agei

ng

-so

ciet

y/p

rod

uct

s-to

ols

-go

od

pra

ctic

e/

Cas

e ex

ampl

es o

f loc

al

auth

ority

app

roac

hes

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Man

ches

ter C

ity C

ounc

il –

Valu

ing

Old

er P

eopl

e to

cre

ate

an a

ge-

frie

ndly

city

(ww

w.m

anch

este

r.go

v.u

k/d

ow

nlo

ads/

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/118

99/m

anch

este

r_a_

gre

at_p

lace

_to

_gro

w_o

lder

_201

0-20

20).

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Edin

burg

h –

A C

ity fo

r All

Age

s Edi

nbur

gh is

als

o w

orki

ng to

war

ds

mee

ting

the

need

s of o

lder

peo

ple

with

in b

lack

and

min

ority

eth

nic

grou

ps a

s par

t the

ir ap

proa

ch to

dev

elop

ing

an a

ge fr

iend

ly c

ity, c

entr

ed u

pon

the

Toda

y an

d To

mor

row

Ta

sk G

roup

ww

w.e

din

bu

rgh

.go

v.u

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faa.

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sing

pr

ovid

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oach

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Dev

elop

ing

neig

hbou

rhoo

d pl

ans

ww

w.li

verp

oo

lmu

tual

ho

mes

.org

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gh

bo

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erat

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ou

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od

s/n

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hb

ou

rho

od

_pla

ns/

7 Housing Research Summary Number 246

FIG

UR

E 2:

KEY

TH

EME:

Su

pp

ort

ing

resi

den

ts to

dev

elo

p li

feti

me

nei

gh

bo

urh

oo

ds (continued)

Des

crip

tio

n o

f ap

pro

ach

Exam

ple

s an

d fu

rth

er in

form

atio

n

App

roac

hes b

y pr

ivat

e se

ctor

ag

enci

es

Priv

ate

sect

or d

evel

oper

s tha

t w

ork

with

resi

dent

s to

cons

ider

so

cial

infr

astr

uctu

re a

s par

t of

deve

lopm

ents

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Be

yond

Gre

en: w

ww

.bey

on

dg

reen

.co

.uk

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– U

rban

Spl

ash:

ww

w.u

rban

spla

sh.c

o.u

k

Inte

rnat

iona

l ap

proa

ches

App

roac

hes f

rom

oth

er

coun

trie

s to

fost

er re

side

nt-le

d pl

anni

ng, d

evel

opm

ents

and

ev

alua

tion

at n

eigh

bour

hood

le

vel

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– re

sour

ce fo

r res

iden

t gro

ups a

nd o

ther

s to

deve

lop

livab

le

com

mun

ities

for a

ll ag

es h

ttp

://l

ivab

le.o

rg/a

bo

ut-

us

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– V

ital A

ging

Net

wor

k –

ww

w.v

ital

-ag

ing

-net

wo

rk.o

rg/V

ital

_C

om

mu

nit

ies_

Too

lkit

/To

ols

/71/

Co

mp

reh

ensi

ve_T

oo

ls.h

tml

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– W

orld

Hea

lth O

rgan

isat

ion

(200

7) G

loba

l Age

-frie

ndly

Citi

es: A

G

uide

. WH

O, G

enev

a, S

witz

erla

nd.

ww

w.w

ho

.int/

agei

ng

/pu

blic

atio

ns/

Glo

bal

_ag

e_fr

ien

dly

_cit

ies_

Gu

ide_

Eng

lish

.pd

f

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Ru

ral a

reas

: Fed

eral

/Pro

vinc

ial/T

errit

oria

l Min

iste

rs R

espo

nsib

le fo

r Se

nior

s (20

07) A

ge-F

riend

ly R

ural

and

Rem

ote

Com

mun

ities

: A G

uide

. Hea

lthy

Agi

ng

and

Wel

lnes

s Wor

king

Gro

up o

f the

Fed

eral

/Pro

vinc

ial/T

errit

oria

l (F/

P/T)

Com

mitt

ee o

f O

ffici

als (

Seni

ors)

, Can

ada

(ww

w.p

hac

-asp

c.g

c.ca

/sen

iors

-ain

es/a

lt-f

orm

ats/

pd

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licat

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lic/h

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te/a

ge_

frie

nd

ly_r

ura

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FRR

C_e

n.p

df)

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– C

ities

in b

alan

ce. E

U P

rogr

amm

e to

impr

ove

mai

nstr

eam

op

port

uniti

es fo

r old

er p

eopl

e, a

imin

g to

redu

ce re

lianc

e on

hea

lth a

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are

serv

ices

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urag

ing

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phas

is o

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oade

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ng is

sues

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/

Age

pla

tfor

m E

urop

e. E

urop

ean

netw

ork

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esen

ting

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r peo

ple

acro

ss a

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e of

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licy

area

s:w

ww

.ag

e-p

latf

orm

.eu

/en

/ab

ou

t-ag

e

Housing Research Summary Number 246 8

Access (see Figure3)

Access encompasses the various ways in which people can get out and about around the areas in which they live – both physically and virtually – and connect with other people and services in their immediate neighbourhood and beyond. The connections between different places are as important as the design and accessibility of places themselves. Forward thinking inclusive design features at one point in someone’s journey may be rendered useless by poor design somewhere else. Considerations include access to information and advice, creating walkable environments and transport.

9 Housing Research Summary Number 246

FIG

UR

E 3:

KEY

TH

EME:

AC

CES

S

Issu

e D

escr

ipti

on

of

app

roac

hEx

amp

les

and

co

nta

cts

Info

rmat

ion

and

advi

ceU

sing

a v

arie

ty

of a

ppro

ache

s to

enab

le p

eopl

e to

fin

d ou

t inf

orm

atio

n,

get a

dvic

e an

d w

here

to fi

nd h

elp

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Firs

tsto

p (E

lder

ly A

ccom

mod

atio

n C

ouns

el) p

rovi

des a

web

and

tele

phon

e in

form

atio

n an

d ad

vice

serv

ice

for o

lder

peo

ple,

ww

w.fi

rsts

top

care

advi

ce.o

rg.u

k/.

An

eval

uatio

n of

the

serv

ice

has b

een

unde

rtak

en b

y Bu

rges

s (20

10).

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Vill

age

Age

nts,

Glo

uces

ters

hire

, defi

ned

as ‘A

loca

lly b

ased

peo

ple

who

ar

e ab

le to

pro

vide

face

to fa

ce in

form

atio

n an

d su

ppor

t whi

ch e

nabl

es o

lder

peo

ple

to

mak

e in

form

ed c

hoic

es a

bout

thei

r fut

ure

need

s’. V

illag

e A

gent

s are

join

tly fu

nded

by

Glo

uces

ters

hire

Cou

nty

Cou

ncil

and

Glo

uces

ters

hire

NH

S. T

he sc

hem

e is

man

aged

by

Glo

uces

ters

hire

Cou

nty

Cou

ncil

in p

artn

ersh

ip w

ith G

louc

este

rshi

re R

ural

Com

mun

ity

Cou

ncil

ww

w.v

illag

eag

ents

.org

.uk

Tran

spor

t-lin

king

toge

ther

di

ffer

ent t

ypes

of

tran

spor

tatio

n to

pr

ovid

e a

coor

dina

ted

serv

ice;

Prov

idin

g a

choi

ce o

f pu

blic

and

dem

and

resp

onsi

ve se

rvic

es

Inte

grat

ed tr

ansp

ort

serv

ices

Reso

urce

s for

loca

l au

thor

ities

Com

mun

ity

Tran

spor

t

Adv

ice

and

supp

ort a

bout

rura

l tr

ansp

ort i

ssue

s (R

ural

Com

mun

ity

Cou

ncils

)

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

Loca

l aut

horit

y le

d in

tegr

ated

tran

spor

t inc

ludi

ng v

olun

tary

sect

or a

nd

com

mun

ity g

roup

serv

ices

– C

allC

onne

ct, L

inco

lnsh

ire C

ount

y C

ounc

il

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Re

port

on

inte

grat

ed tr

ansp

ort i

n ru

ral a

reas

, inc

ludi

ng U

K/E

urop

ean

prac

tice

exam

ples

htt

p:/

/cfi

t.in

dep

end

ent.

go

v.u

k/p

ub

s/20

08/r

pt/

ind

ex.h

tm

Furt

her I

nfor

mat

ion

– D

epar

tmen

t for

Tran

spor

t (20

10) R

esou

rce

guid

e fo

r loc

al a

utho

ritie

s:

Tran

spor

t sol

utio

ns fo

r old

er p

eopl

e

ww

w.d

ft.g

ov.

uk/

pg

r/in

clu

sio

n/o

lder

/tra

nsp

ort

solu

tio

ns.

pd

f

Furt

her I

nfor

mat

ion

– C

omm

unity

Tran

spor

t Ass

ocia

tion

ww

w.c

tau

k.o

rg/

Cas

e Ex

ampl

e –

H.A

.R.T

. Com

mun

ity tr

ansp

ort,

Eas

t Yor

kshi

re w

ww

.med

ibu

s.o

rg.u

k

Usi

ng S

ocia

l Ent

erpr

ise

to d

evel

op c

omm

unity

tran

spor

t in

rura

l are

as;

ww

w.p

lun

kett

.co

.uk/

wh

atw

edo

/RC

T.cf

m

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

on a

dvic

e an

d su

ppor

t on

rura

l tra

nspo

rt is

sues

w

ww

.ru

rals

uss

ex.o

rg.u

k/se

rvic

e/ru

ral-t

ran

spo

rt/

Housing Research Summary Number 246 10

FIG

UR

E 3:

KEY

TH

EME:

AC

CES

S (continued)

Issu

e D

escr

ipti

on

of

app

roac

hEx

amp

les

and

co

nta

cts

Cre

atin

g w

alka

ble

envi

ronm

ents

Fu

rthe

r inf

orm

atio

n –

tool

kits

for p

ract

ition

ers a

nd c

omm

unity

gro

ups:

w

ww

.livi

ng

stre

ets.

org

.uk/

cam

pai

gn

ing

_to

ols

/

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– M

itche

ll, L

., Bu

rton

, E. a

nd R

aman

, S. (

2004

) Nei

ghbo

urho

ods f

or li

fe.

A c

heck

list o

f rec

omm

enda

tions

for d

esig

ning

dem

entia

-frie

ndly

out

door

env

ironm

ents

. Lo

ndon

: Hou

sing

Cor

pora

tion.

Orie

ntat

ion

and

way

findi

ngU

sing

sign

s,

uncl

utte

red

stre

etsc

apes

and

la

ndm

arks

to m

ake

it ea

sier

for p

eopl

e to

nav

igat

e an

d fin

d th

eir w

ay a

roun

d

Man

ual f

or S

tree

ts 2

sets

out

des

ign

prin

cipl

es fo

r dec

lutt

erin

g: w

ww

.cih

t.o

rg.u

k

Mitc

hell,

L.,

Burt

on, E

. and

Ram

an, S

. (20

04) N

eigh

bour

hood

s for

life

. A c

heck

list o

f re

com

men

datio

ns fo

r des

igni

ng d

emen

tia-f

riend

ly o

utdo

or e

nviro

nmen

ts. L

ondo

n:

Hou

sing

Cor

pora

tion.

Burt

on, E

. and

Mitc

hell,

L. (

2006

) Inc

lusi

ve u

rban

des

ign:

stre

ets f

or li

fe (L

ondo

n: E

lsev

ier)

, se

ts o

ut th

e ar

gum

ents

and

des

ign

prin

cipl

es fo

r acc

essi

ble

stre

ets,

incl

udin

g or

ient

atio

n an

d w

ayfin

ding

as p

art o

f the

dis

cuss

ion.

Ade

quat

e pr

ovis

ion

of a

way

from

hom

e to

ilets

Des

ign

guid

ance

and

pr

actic

e ex

ampl

es

of a

way

from

hom

e to

ilet p

rovi

sion

Incl

usiv

e D

esig

n fo

r Get

ting

Out

door

s (I’D

GO

):

ww

w.id

go

.ac.

uk/

des

ign

_gu

idan

ce/s

tree

ts.h

tm#p

ub

licto

ilets

Dep

artm

ent f

or C

omm

uniti

es a

nd L

ocal

Gov

ernm

ent:

w

ww

.co

mm

un

itie

s.g

ov.

uk/

do

cum

ents

/lo

calg

ove

rnm

ent/

pd

f/71

3772

.pd

f

Dep

artm

ent f

or C

omm

uniti

es a

nd L

ocal

Gov

ernm

ent:

w

ww

.co

mm

un

itie

s.g

ov.

uk/

do

cum

ents

/lo

calg

ove

rnm

ent/

pd

f/10

6452

0.p

df

11 Housing Research Summary Number 246

Services and amenities (see Figure 4)

Neighbourhoods that offer a mix of residential, retail and employment uses can help to meet the needs of diverse groups within the community. Although it is an ambitious aspiration, this feature of lifetime neighbourhoods has the potential to enable local authorities and residents to meet a range of parallel objectives such as striving towards sustainability and helping to reduce negative impacts on the environment. The issues to be considered include promoting well being, local access to outlets and accessible food.

Housing Research Summary Number 246 12

FIG

UR

E 4:

KEY

TH

EME:

SER

VIC

ES A

ND

AM

ENIT

IES

Issu

eD

escr

ipti

on

of

app

roac

hFu

rth

er in

form

atio

n a

nd

cas

e ex

amp

les

Prom

otin

g w

ell-b

eing

Hea

lth

inte

rven

tions

w

ithin

co

mm

uniti

es

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– pa

rtne

rshi

ps b

etw

een

loca

l aut

horit

ies,

hea

lth, v

olun

tary

and

com

mun

ity se

ctor

s to

join

up

serv

ice

and

brea

k do

wn

barr

iers

to b

ring

abou

t bet

ter l

ocal

ly d

eliv

ered

serv

ices

Lin

kage

plus

w

ww

.dw

p.g

ov.

uk/

po

licy/

agei

ng

-so

ciet

y/p

rod

uct

s-to

ols

-go

od

pra

ctic

e/lin

kag

e-p

lus/

Part

ners

hips

for O

lder

peo

ple

Proj

ects

(PO

PPs)

ww

w.d

h.g

ov.

uk/

en/S

oci

alC

are/

Del

iver

ing

adu

ltso

cial

care

/Old

erp

eop

le/P

artn

ersh

ipsf

orO

lder

Peo

ple

Pro

ject

s/in

dex

.htm

Loca

l acc

ess t

o re

tail

outle

ts

Acc

essi

ble

food

/fre

sh fo

od

Supp

ortin

g co

mm

erci

al

and

com

mun

ity

owne

d ou

tlets

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Ru

ral S

hops

Alli

ance

ww

w.r

ura

lsh

op

s.o

rg.u

k/en

/pag

es/D

efau

lt.a

spx

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Pl

unke

tt F

ound

atio

n:

ww

w.p

lun

kett

.co

.uk/

wh

atw

edo

/rcs

/ru

ralc

om

mu

nit

ysh

op

s.cf

mC

ase

exam

ple

– O

xfor

dshi

re V

illag

e Sh

ops D

evel

opm

ent W

orke

r Sch

eme,

Rur

al C

omm

unity

Cou

ncil

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Lo

ndon

Foo

d lin

k: w

ww

.su

stai

nw

eb.o

rg/l

on

do

nfo

od

link/

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– w

ww

.su

stai

nw

eb.o

rg/c

ityh

arve

st/.

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– w

ww

.cab

e.o

rg.u

k/su

stai

nab

le-p

lace

s/ad

vice

/urb

an-f

oo

d-p

rod

uct

ion

Cas

e ex

ampl

e –

Man

ches

ter f

ood

futu

res :

ww

w.f

oo

dfu

ture

s.in

fo/s

ite/

Cas

e ex

ampl

e –

Incr

edib

le E

dibl

e To

dmor

den:

ww

w.c

abe.

org

.uk/

case

-stu

die

s/in

cred

ible

-ed

ible

-to

dm

ord

en.

13 Housing Research Summary Number 246

Built and natural environments (see Figure 5)

Working towards built and natural environments that are inclusive of as wide an audience as possible is not just about a fundamental equalities issue. Outdoor spaces that work well for people have the potential for benefits in terms of sociability, health and well being. Although a range of guidance already exists that promotes sound design principles into new build, one consideration is the extent to which current guidance takes sufficient account of the implications of a larger number of older people in future decades. Further, a significant issue is how existing environments may need to be retrofitted to accommodate a growing older population, leading to the following key issues:

• How will new developments incorporate lifetime neighbourhood objectives into masterplanning;

• Retrofitting the current built environment, including the potential of regeneration and renewal, and

• Adequate maintenance of the existing infrastructure

• Recognising the importance of greenspace for health and well-being (and which is accessible for as many people as possible).

Housing Research Summary Number 246 14

FIG

UR

E 5:

KEY

TH

EME:

BU

ILT

AN

D N

ATU

RA

L EN

VIR

ON

MEN

TS

Issu

eD

escr

ipti

on

of

app

roac

hFu

rth

er in

form

atio

n a

nd

cas

e ex

amp

les

New

des

ign

and

retr

ofitt

ing

that

pr

omot

es in

clus

ive

and

wal

kabl

e en

viro

nmen

ts

Stre

ets,

pav

emen

ts,

foot

path

s and

cy

cle

rout

es th

at

are

suffi

cien

tly

mai

ntai

ned,

cle

an,

wel

l-lit,

with

ad

equa

te ro

ad

cros

sing

poi

nts a

nd

seat

ing/

plac

es to

rest

in

pub

lic p

lace

s;

Des

ign

guid

ance

an

d re

sour

ces f

or

prac

titio

ners

Reso

urce

for U

rban

Des

ign

Info

rmat

ion

(RU

DI).

Res

ourc

e, n

ews a

nd n

etw

orki

ng si

te

dedi

cate

d to

urb

an d

esig

n an

d pl

acem

akin

g: w

ww

.ru

di.n

et/

Man

ual f

or S

tree

ts –

em

phas

ises

join

t wor

king

am

ong

prac

titio

ners

in th

e de

sign

of

resi

dent

ial a

nd o

ther

ligh

tly tr

affic

ked

stre

ets,

with

a p

rime

cons

ider

atio

n th

at th

ey m

eet

the

need

s of p

edes

tria

ns a

nd c

yclis

ts:

ww

w.d

ft.g

ov.

uk/

pg

r/su

stai

nab

le/m

anfo

rstr

eets

/

Man

ual f

or S

tree

ts 2

– n

ot a

repl

acem

ent f

or m

anua

l for

stre

ets,

but

wid

ens t

he sc

ope

beyo

nd re

side

ntia

l str

eets

(inc

ludi

ng ru

ral a

reas

) and

als

o se

ts o

ut d

eclu

tter

ing:

w

ww

.cih

t.o

rg.u

k

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Pa

pwor

th Tr

ust,

Gui

de to

pla

nnin

g, d

esig

ning

and

man

agin

g co

mm

uniti

es th

at a

re in

clus

ive

of d

isab

led

peop

le: w

ww

.pap

wo

rth

.org

.uk/

do

wn

load

s/p

t_g

uid

eto

dev

elo

pin

gin

clu

sive

com

mu

nit

ies_

2008

_ 10

0901

1015

23.p

df

Plan

ning

Adv

isor

y Se

rvic

e –

prac

tice

exam

ples

to il

lust

rate

how

loca

l pla

nnin

g au

thor

ities

ar

e w

orki

ng to

inco

rpor

ate

the

philo

soph

y an

d pr

inci

ples

of i

nclu

sive

des

ign

into

robu

st

plan

ning

pol

icie

s and

supp

lem

enta

ry p

lann

ing

Doc

umen

ts:

ww

w.p

as.g

ov.

uk/

pas

/aio

/404

75

Incl

usiv

e D

esig

n fo

r Get

ting

Out

door

s (I’D

GO

) ww

w.id

go

.ac.

uk/

ind

ex.h

tm

15 Housing Research Summary Number 246

FIG

UR

E 5:

KEY

TH

EME:

BU

ILT

AN

D N

ATU

RA

L EN

VIR

ON

MEN

TS (continued)

Issu

eD

escr

ipti

on

of

app

roac

hFu

rth

er in

form

atio

n a

nd

cas

e ex

amp

les

Des

igni

ng a

nd

deve

lopi

ng

envi

ronm

ents

that

pr

omot

e he

alth

and

w

ell-b

eing

Des

ign

guid

ance

an

d re

sour

ces f

or

prom

otin

g he

alth

and

w

ell-b

eing

in n

ew a

nd

exis

ting

deve

lopm

ents

Gui

danc

e on

ach

ievi

ng

heal

th o

utco

mes

from

pl

anni

ng c

ontr

ibut

ions

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– ex

ampl

es o

f too

lkits

and

gui

danc

e fr

om S

cotla

nd fo

r loc

al

auth

oriti

es: w

ww

.livi

ng

stre

ets.

org

.uk/

ind

ex.p

hp

?cID

=124

Inte

rnat

iona

l exa

mpl

e –

Prov

inci

al H

ealth

Ser

vice

s Aut

horit

y (C

anad

a):

ww

w.p

hsa

.ca/

Hea

lth

Pro

fess

ion

als/

Pop

ula

tio

n-P

ub

lic-H

ealt

h/H

ealt

hy-

B

uilt

-En

viro

nm

ent/

def

ault

.htm

NH

S Lo

ndon

Hea

lthy

Urb

an D

evel

opm

ent U

nit (

HU

DU

) Hea

lth a

nd U

rban

Pla

nnin

g To

olki

t for

cal

cula

ting

plan

ning

con

trib

utio

ns fr

om d

evel

opm

ents

for h

ealth

care

w

ww

.hea

lth

yurb

and

evel

op

men

t.n

hs.

uk/

ind

ex.h

tml.

Des

ign

that

pro

mot

es

com

mun

ity sa

fety

, in

clud

ing

safe

stre

ets

and

play

are

as fo

r ch

ildre

n

Des

ign

guid

ance

on

com

mun

ity sa

fety

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Se

cure

d by

Des

ign:

ww

w.s

ecu

red

byd

esig

n.c

om

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion-

htt

p:/

/des

ign

agai

nst

crim

e.o

rg/

Gre

ensp

ace

Prov

idin

g op

port

uniti

es

for s

ocia

l con

tact

. Pr

omot

ing

heal

th a

nd

wel

l-bei

ng o

bjec

tives

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– D

esig

n gu

idan

ce fo

r pub

lic o

utdo

or sp

aces

and

par

ks –

I’D

GO

C

onso

rtiu

m: w

ww

.idg

o.a

c.u

k/d

esig

n_g

uid

ance

/op

en_s

pac

es.h

tm

Housing Research Summary Number 246 16

Social networks (see Figure 6)

As well as enabling residents to meet their daily needs, the inclusive design of physical features of neighbourhoods provides the essential backdrop to enable people to develop their social networks and participate as active citizens in their communities. Social networks enhance the way in which individuals are able to engage with their neighbourhoods and beyond, linking in to different groups, activities and facilities that are available.

The practice of developing lifetime neighbourhoods, therefore, includes not only a consideration of physical design, but also developing an understanding of the social factors and events that promote active participation in community life.

17 Housing Research Summary Number 246

FIG

UR

E 6:

KEY

TH

EME:

SO

CIA

L N

ETW

OR

KS/

WEL

L-B

EIN

G

Issu

eD

escr

ipti

on

of

app

roac

hFu

rth

er in

form

atio

n a

nd

cas

e ex

amp

les

Hel

ping

soci

al n

etw

orks

to

dev

elop

and

redu

ce

tens

ions

bet

wee

n re

side

nts a

nd g

roup

s

Supp

ortin

g so

cial

ne

twor

ks/p

ract

ical

hel

p/Ta

cklin

g so

cial

isol

atio

n

Inte

rgen

erat

iona

l pr

ojec

ts

Goo

d ne

ighb

our

sche

mes

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– Be

th Jo

hnso

n Fo

unda

tion:

ww

w.b

jf.o

rg.u

k/

Nat

iona

l Fou

ndat

ion

for E

duca

tiona

l Res

earc

h (N

FER)

. Lite

ratu

re re

view

of e

ffec

tive

inte

rgen

erat

iona

l pra

ctic

e: w

ww

.nfe

r.ac.

uk/

pu

blic

atio

ns/

LIG

01/

Cas

e ex

ampl

e –

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supp

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oo

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es fo

r peo

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com

mun

ity c

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ge h

alls

/co

mm

unity

caf

és

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and

exam

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ow

ned

asse

ts –

w

ww

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ur-

wo

rk/c

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mu

nit

y-as

sets

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ling

crim

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ar o

f cr

ime

and

anti-

soci

al

beha

viou

r

The

role

of t

he v

olun

tary

sect

or, c

omm

unity

gro

ups a

nd th

e pr

ivat

e se

ctor

com

ing

toge

ther

to se

lf or

gani

se a

nd a

ddre

ss is

sues

rela

ted

to fe

ar o

f crim

e ha

s bee

n em

phas

ised

by

the

Safe

r Hom

es In

itiat

ive

fund

ed b

y th

e H

ome

Offi

ce, w

ww

.gra

nts

adm

in.c

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ferh

om

es/i

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ex.h

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Cas

e ex

ampl

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urn

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fer:

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w.k

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.org

.uk

Housing Research Summary Number 246 18

Housing (see Figure 7)

Wherever we live as we grow older our homes have a powerful influence on our capacity to remain independent, socially involved and to enjoy a good quality of life. In the context of delivering lifetime neighbourhoods, a key challenge is to ensure a diverse range of appropriate accommodation options within neighbourhoods (or that are within reach of communities if particular housing options cannot be made available in the immediate locality – especially in rural areas). The overwhelming proportion of older people living in general needs housing – 90 per cent – shows that the emphasis of the lifetime neighbourhoods agenda needs to be on retrofitting accommodation, and in delivering services across existing neighbourhoods. Where there are opportunities, however, to develop new housing and new neighbourhoods, the emerging policy context suggests that residents, local planners and developers will need to work together to determine future new build developments, taking account not only of the requirements of current needs, but also projections of future demands in the coming decades. The variety of housing options required if any one neighbourhood needs to consider a balance between general needs housing, specialist housing options, and also housing related support services such as Home Improvement Agencies and handyperson services.

19 Housing Research Summary Number 246

FIG

UR

E 7:

KEY

TH

EME:

HO

USI

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Issu

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escr

ipti

on

of

app

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hFu

rth

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form

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idin

g ho

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ut th

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ecou

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guid

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on

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– de

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chiv

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time

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new

on-

line

tool

to b

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ase

stud

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l asp

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ifetim

e N

eigh

bour

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s.h

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Furt

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– H

omes

and

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mun

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Age

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sour

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s an

d co

mm

unity

gro

ups i

dent

ifyin

g pr

actic

e ex

ampl

es a

nd g

uida

nce

on a

rang

e of

key

th

emes

rele

vant

to li

fetim

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ighb

ourh

oods

(inc

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uilt

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com

mun

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men

t and

hou

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ttp

://s

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mes

and

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mu

nit

ies.

co.u

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ople

to

live

in th

eir o

wn

hom

es

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sing

rela

ted

supp

ort

serv

ices

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

– H

ome

impr

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ent A

genc

ies w

ww

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un

dat

ion

s.u

k.co

m/h

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mat

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– ad

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for o

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peo

ple

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by th

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derly

Acc

omm

odat

ion

Cou

nsel

) w

ww

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tsto

pca

read

vice

.org

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Housing Research Summary Number 246 20

Looking forward to lifetime neighbourhoods

A key role for practitioners is in facilitating a consideration of the responses necessary within neighbourhoods to address the long term implications of a growing older population. Planning for neighbourhood change might revolve around engagement with residents over individual services or more holistic, place based design of neighbourhoods and services. More fundamentally, practitioners have an important role in resident empowerment, and also in providing information about projected population change within neighbourhoods to assist residents in thinking about how neighbourhoods and service delivery may need to be configured into the future.

In this respect, resident empowerment will be an essential process as part of fostering lifetime neighbourhoods, to enable individuals and communities to set their own priorities and agendas in order to bring about change in the area where they live, either by their own actions or by working with providers and commissioners to get the services that they need. There are a range of evaluation tools from other countries, especially the USA and Canada. In the UK, there are also a number of examples where audits of neighbourhoods, and specific features of neighbourhoods have taken place, as a way of helping to assess ‘age friendliness’, and how well neighbourhoods work for people.

While pre-existing tools and resources are useful, all neighbourhoods will be different, and each will be starting from a unique point. There is an imperative to consider the lifetime neighbourhoods agenda in many rural localities since the implications of a growing older population are already becoming apparent, and will continue to do so more rapidly than in urban communities. Whilst the broad principles that underpin lifetime neighbourhoods are similar for any area, the practical outcomes in terms of priorities and emphases will look very different between rural, suburban, inner city and town or city centres, as well as between different types of rural area.

Nevertheless, there remain real challenges for residents and practitioners who aim to develop lifetime neighbourhoods, including overcoming limited awareness of the implications of demographic change and the potential for neighbourhood design and service delivery to be more inclusive, as well as severe resource constraints in taking this agenda forwards.

This summary has set out a number of principles and themes for achieving lifetime neighbourhoods. The issues that residents currently face in terms of the design of their neighbourhoods and the range of services and facilities available vary hugely. The priorities that communities decide upon in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the coming decades will necessarily be diverse. Furthermore, there is already a huge range of individuals, groups and organisations undertaking projects that help to meet lifetime neighbourhood objectives. We would urge communities, service providers and tiers of government to celebrate this diversity, and to encourage residents to articulate their visions and share ideas and innovation at local level, and more widely.

21 Housing Research Summary Number 246

The following checklist sets out the range of issues that residents might want to consider as part of community planning processes and the development of neighbourhood plans. It aims to focus thinking about how well the design of neighbourhoods, and access to services work for different groups within neighbourhoods. It also aims to prompt reflection on the kind of issues that residents may want to consider in terms of how neighbourhoods and services might need to look in response to a growing older population in coming decades. It is suggested that the checklist be considered alongside the features and themes of lifetime neighbourhoods set out in Figure 1.

Checklist:

• How well does our neighbourhood work as a place to live?

• How far does it meet the needs of all the people who live here?

• Are there aspects of the neighbourhood that work well for some people, but not for others?

– Older people

– Families with children

– Young adults

– Children

– Disabled people

– Minority ethnic groups

• Are there features of our neighbourhood that are highly valued?

– By whom?

– Is there a consensus?

• Is there a feature of the neighbourhood, or a service, that we don’t want to lose?

• Are there features of our neighbourhood that are less valued?

– By whom?

– Is there a consensus?

– Is there anything we would like to lose?

• How well do we think our neighbourhood will work when there is a larger number of older people in the future?

– What do we think may be needed in the future?

– Will new or different services need to be provided?

– Will the design of the neighbourhood need to alter?

– How will people be able to access the services they require?

Housing Research Summary Number 246 22

Access

• How well does our neighbourhood work in terms of enabling residents to get out and about? What about the following groups:

– Older people

– Families with children

– Young adults

– Children

– Disabled people

– Minority ethnic groups

• Are there adequate, safe, well maintained pavements/cycle ways and roads?

• How will access around the neighbourhood need to change when there is a larger number of older people?

Housing:

• Is there sufficient housing that is affordable and that has the space to enable households to make any necessary changes for example as a result of poor health or impairments?

• Is there a sufficient range of housing, including homes that are well designed to meet needs across the lifecourse, which is affordable and that has the space to enable households to make any necessary changes e.g. as a result of poor health or impairments?

• How well does the range of housing choices that are available in the neighbourhood work for:

• Older people

– Families with children

– Young adults

– Disabled people

– Minority ethnic groups

• How well will the housing choices that are available work when there is a larger number of older people?

Information services and amenities

• Is there sufficient access to information and advice on housing options, wider services and amenities to exercise choice locally?

• How far do residents have local access to services and amenities?

– How far do people have to travel if there is no provision within the neighbourhood?

– How do they get there?

23 Housing Research Summary Number 246

Social networks/well-being

• Are there any tensions between members of the community?

• Can these tensions be resolved?

• How safe do we feel when we go out?

• Does this change at different times of the day?

Thinking about the future:

• How can we plan now for the changes we are going to see in the coming decades?

– What would be our priorities?

• Can we get involved in the design and commissioning of services?

• Who is already involved from within our community when we talk to service providers or commissioners?

– Who is not involved?

– How can we get wider involvement?

• What about the design of the neighbourhood itself?

– Can changes be made to the existing infrastructure?

– How will the infrastructure be maintained?

• If a new development is going to take place amongst us or near us, what can be done to make sure it meets the needs of as many people as possible?

– Are there design features we feel are an absolute minimum?

– What type of community infrastructure would be of most benefit to the neighbourhood?

• If a change is planned in terms of a service or a design feature in the neighbourhood, will there be winners and/or losers?

• Can this tension be resolved?

– What opposition is there likely to be to any planned change?

– What information and data is there available about different aspects of the neighbourhood and who lives here?

– Who can provide this?

– Do we need to provide this information ourselves?

Housing Research Summary Number 246 24

© Crown copyright, 2011

Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown.

You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or e-mail: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.

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December 2011

ISBN: 978-1-4098- 2975-1