Reacting to the Government's proposals to seek 'Lifetime Homes' standards for all new homes by 2013, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation Stewart Baseley has cautioned against applying a 'one-size fits all' solution to the needs of older people. Mr Baseley said: "Meeting the needs of an ageing population in a practical way is important and homebuilders wish to help with solutions. We cannot, however, look at the needs of the ageing in isolation from those of our customers as a whole. The needs of the elderly themselves also vary widely, and the universal application of the Lifetime Homes standard to all new homes would be at the same time a disproportionate and insufficiently targeted response. It is not a panacea. "The critical issue facing people in the housing market today is affordability. Many young people are struggling to get on the property ladder. A disproportionate, one-size-fits-all approach to applying Lifetime Homes standards would adversely affect homebuilders' efforts to keep housing affordable and meet the needs of customers in younger age groups. "Homebuilders are constantly striving to meet the requirements of homebuyers of all ages. We need a sensible debate as to how the genuine needs of older people can be balanced with the broader imperative of housing affordability and supply." - Ends - Notes for Editors 1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk For all media information, please contact: Paul Boulter 0207 421 6140 07814 506 378 paul.boulter@portlandpr.co.uk
