A councillor is to put further pressure on the council to act to ensure people can live in their homes for longer. Labour councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing is calling for a locally drawn up supplementary planning document, a document that would mean developers having to follow new ‘lifetime homes standards'. She explained why:

"It's long been on the political agenda that people should be given the necessary support to be able to remain in their own homes as long as possible, and building homes to lifetime standards is an important part of developing that policy.

"We have an ageing population as people are well aware, so it becomes increasingly important that new homes are built in such a way that doesn't mean people have to immediately move out if they develop a mobility problem.

"There are 16 design criteria from something as simple as having switches and controls at a height that someone wheelchair bound can easily reach to arranging bathrooms in a way that allows for wheelchair access".

York's current housing stock contains large numbers of terraced properties which are classed as being of non-decent standard due to the steep and narrow staircases which cannot be adapted. There are also many newer built properties in York, including flats, which would prove difficult for those who become disabled or infirm with age to continue to live in.

Coun. Simpson-Laing says this is a problem for the private housing sector:

"Although some properties could be adapted, to lifetime standards, the cost of doing so could be prohibitive. It is imperative that new homes are built to the ‘standard' as soon as possible, not at some possible future date. It is perfectly reasonable for people to want to live independently for as long as possible, and it is unreasonable to expect someone to move after an illness or accident in the 21st century. After first calling for action from the council six years ago, it is about time it acted and did something on this issue".