The Gateshead Housing Standard for Ageing Well
Introduction
Gateshead Council is committed to 'making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives'.
We believe that a thriving Gateshead is one that supports people to age well. Ageing well in Gateshead means being able to live in a home and community that is supportive, safe, accessible, non-discriminatory, and caring. All these elements are crucial to good health.
This standard is intended to be applied to any type of housing, including conventional and specialist housing. However, it also provides guidance on specific design and features of specialist housing.
Who is the Gateshead Housing Standard for Ageing Well for?
The Gateshead Housing Standard for Ageing Well is intended to be used by commissioners, designers, planners, and developers as a tool when considering providing housing for people as they age across all tenure types.
How to use the Gateshead Housing Standard for Ageing Well
This standard is intended to be used as a best practice guide for:
- New build housing that is designed from the outset for ageing well.
- Adaptations and changes to existing housing so that it can support people to age well, however it is recognised there may be constraints in relation to adapting and changing existing homes in relation to the content of this guide.
This standard is intended to be an aspirational guide rather than a mandatory standard and includes case studies as evidence of what we consider 'good' looks like.
In the first instance, Gateshead Council will be using this standard as a guide to shape the Council's approach to its own older person's stock.
Context
The development of the Gateshead Housing Standard for Ageing Well has been prompted by a recent specialist and supported housing needs assessment and strategy undertaken by Gateshead Council with support from the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, which identified the housing and support needs of local people as they age.
This research highlighted the extent to which Gateshead's population is ageing. It demonstrated that the 65+ and 75+ population cohorts are increasing at a greater rate than the overall 55+ population. This is significant because the 65+ and 75+ population cohorts are more likely to need homes, whether specialist or conventional housing, that are better suited to people as they age.
Age cohort | 2023 population | 2023 % change | 2025 population | 2025 % change | 2030 population | 2030 % change | 2035 population | 2035 % change | 2040 population | 2040 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
55+ | 67,720 | 1.8% | 70,305 | 3.8% | 71,405 | 5.4% | 71,569 | 5.7% | 72,515 | 7.1% |
65+ | 40,862 | 2.7% | 43,549 | 6.6% | 46,950 | 14.9% | 49,336 | 20.7% | 49,991 | 22.3% |
75+ | 19,891 | 7.5% | 22,097 | 11.1% | 23,062 | 15.9% | 24,953 | 25.4% | 27,493 | 38.2% |
Source: ONS 2021 census and ONS 2018-based sub national population projections
This research also involved speaking with local people about their housing needs and preferences. It identified that whilst the majority of people in later life are seeking to remain living in their existing homes, approximately 25% are potentially interested in downsizing or rightsizing. However, people are seeking a range of housing options that enable them to age well and remain independent in later life. This research indicated that amongst those potentially interested in downsizing or rightsizing:
- Around 50% are interested in moving to a form of specialist age-designated housing, primarily retirement housing (for sale) and modern sheltered housing (for social and affordable rent), followed by housing with care (extra care housing).
- Around 50% are interested in moving to age friendly housing that meets age related needs but is not age-designated housing.
Gateshead Council is seeking aspirational, accessible and attractive homes that adapt to meet the changing needs of people as they age in relation to both specialist and conventional housing.
The majority of research participants are seeking to remain living in their existing homes as they age, therefore Gateshead Council also wants to prioritise making where older people currently live better 'future-proofed' for ageing, for example through aids, adaptations and technology.
Gateshead is above the national average in relation to the Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index (IDAOPI) for people aged 60+ living in relative poverty at 19.4%, compared to 14.2% nationally. The level of home ownership amongst over 65s is also significantly lower at 68% compared to the 78% national average.
This evidence demonstrates that a mix of tenure options are required including social housing, low-cost home ownership and market housing options. This standard seeks to influence all of these tenure types so that they can better support people to age well and create a mix of aspirational and affordable housing for residents over 55.