\n<\/p>\n
Government plans to make huge cuts to targets for accessible new-build homes in England have been labelled a \u201cmonumental reversal\u201d by campaigners, who say disabled people have been left feeling \u201cbetrayed and excluded\u201d.<\/p>\n
In its proposals for changes to the country\u2019s planning system, the government said a minimum of 40% of new-build homes would be built to improved accessibility standards \u2013 M4(2) \u2013 which include step-free access and wider doorways and corridors.<\/p>\n
The proposals set no minimum target for the proportion of wheelchair accessible \u2013 M4(3) \u2013 new-build homes, which disability campaigners believe should be at least 10%.<\/p>\n
The move is a big climbdown from the previous Conservative government\u2019s commitment to making all new homes meet the M4(2) standard as part of a push for better accessibility throughout the housebuilding industry.<\/p>\n
Mikey Erhardt, policy and campaigns officer at Disability Rights UK, said it was \u201cabsolutely incredible to witness the government\u2019s lack of principle\u201d on the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a monumental reversal of existing policy. We had been awaiting the plans to implement a previous 100% figure and this decision leaves disabled people feeling betrayed and excluded, and questioning the government\u2019s commitment to disability equality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRequiring 100% of all new-build homes to be built to improved accessibility standards, with 10% to wheelchair user standards, would have been the right thing to do, creating a level playing field for developers and sending a strong signal that our housing stock must change to meet the needs of our older and disabled citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government\u2019s failure of resolve and watered down proposal leaves a bitter taste, raising questions about whose interests are being served.\u201d<\/p>\n
Millie Brown, deputy director for homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, said the 40% target was an \u201cimportant step in the right direction\u201d, although she acknowledged it was a \u201cstep back\u201d from the Conservative government\u2019s previous plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, the announcement could have gone further,\u201d she said. \u201cWe would hope that local authorities are encouraged to view 40% as the minimum to achieve and exceed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The government\u2019s proposed changes to the planning system say that 40% of new homes should meet the M4(2) standard, but that councils should \u201cset requirements for M4(2) that meet or exceed their locally assessed need for this housing\u201d.<\/p>\n
This category of home accessibility requires step-free access, wider doors and entrance-level toilets to make them adaptable for people with limited mobility and older people.<\/p>\n
Homes built to the M4(3) standard must be fully accessible for full-time wheelchair users, with ample turning spaces and accessible bathrooms and kitchens.<\/p>\n
Many local authorities set their own targets on this \u2013 since 2015, in London the standard has been 90% of homes at M4(2) and 10% at M4(3).<\/p>\n
But rates fluctuate sharply across the country \u2013 analysis by the Centre for Ageing Better found that people living in the East Midlands or north-east of England were six times less likely to be living in a fully accessible home compared with people living in London.<\/p>\n
Just 13% of homes in England were fully accessible, the research found.<\/p>\n
The housing secretary, Steve Reed, said the changes to the planning system were part of his plan to \u201cget Britain building\u201d and that \u201cwe owe it to the people of this country to do everything within our power to build the homes they deserve\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mark Gale, policy manager at the disability charity Sense, said he wanted the government reconsider the accessibility targets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re disappointed to hear the government is cutting back on accessibility targets for new homes,\u201d he said. \u201cInaccessible housing can be a huge barrier to independence for disabled people with complex needs. Sadly, there is often far too little suitable housing stock available, meaning some people have no choice but to live in homes that don\u2019t meet their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Government plans to make huge cuts to targets for accessible new-build homes in England have been labelled a \u201cmonumental reversal\u201d by campaigners, who say disabled people have been left feeling \u201cbetrayed and excluded\u201d. In its proposals for changes to the country\u2019s planning system, the government said a minimum of 40% of new-build homes would be<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[3353,837,562,701,3427,311,20999,364,1415],"class_list":{"0":"post-38280","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-social-issues","8":"tag-accessibility","9":"tag-betrayed","10":"tag-cuts","11":"tag-disability","12":"tag-disabled","13":"tag-england","14":"tag-newbuild","15":"tag-people","16":"tag-targets"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/38281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}