Don’t forget affordable later living

More affordable homes are always a good thing, although to date in London, this has tended to focus on first and ‘middle’ homes, with little thought for the later-living sector, which tends to be dominated by costly high-end private properties. Naturally, market dynamics and commercial returns are a driver here, but let us not forget affordable housing for the elderly.

London houses more than one million people over the age of 65, many of whom have built their lives and roots here over decades. Just as many at the other end of the housing ladder are less fortunate, many of these older residents are too and it’s vital that we provide accommodation options that don’t mean decanting them out of their communities, which can lead to isolation and an accelerated need for healthcare support.

Partnering with almshouse charity United St Saviour’s, we have recently constructed 57 genuinely affordable homes that will allow older residents of Southwark to continue living in an area they know and love. Through clever design by Witherford Watson Mann, the development will allow residents to live independently for longer, reducing the need for medical care. From a purpose-built ‘community kitchen’ to bring people together, to easily accessed courtyard gardens and range of shared community spaces and resources throughout the development, this new almshouse will be a place where residents are firmly at the centre.

Meanwhile, the adaptable nature of the homes also means they are futureproof, with residents less likely to need to move into a care home, creating a positive knock-on effect for society overall.

It is these types of important partnerships between the private, public and third sectors that I firmly believe can create a better housing landscape that ensures older people are not forgotten about.

Juraj Marko is joint managing director at JTRE London