England is failing to plan for its ageing population – the spending review must put that right

England is not prepared for the impact of its ageing population – and the longer we delay action, the more we risk building the wrong homes in the wrong places, with devastating consequences for individuals and public services alike.

Despite growing awareness, there is still no national plan to deliver the types of housing older people will need to live well in later life. The government’s £2 billion boost for affordable housing, announced in the Spring Statement, was welcome – but without dedicated funding and policy reform for specialist older people’s housing, this investment will fall short of what’s truly needed.

A vital concern

On 11 June, the government will set out its spending review. This is the moment to change course. Ministers must recognise that housing for older people is not a niche concern. It is core infrastructure – as vital to the country’s future as schools, hospitals and transport networks.

The demographic facts are well known. More than one in five people in England and Wales is now over 65, with the numbers rising rapidly. At the same time, new supply of retirement and extra care housing remains minimal.

“Housing for older people is not a niche concern. It is core infrastructure – as vital to the country’s future as schools, hospitals and transport networks.”

Far too many older people are stuck in unsuitable homes, isolated from their communities or unable to leave hospital because there is nowhere safe and accessible for them to live. 

Meeting the need

At Housing 21, we’re working to meet that need – owning or managing almost 24,000 Retirement Living and Extra Care properties and delivering more than 48,000 hours of in-house care each week across our Extra Care schemes. These homes are not just places to live; they’re a lifeline.

They enable people to remain independent for longer, reduce pressure on health and social care and offer long-term savings to the public purse.

But the current system makes it far too difficult to scale-up this kind of housing. Funding is inconsistent; commissioning routes are complex and local planning policies rarely prioritise age-friendly housing.

We cannot continue to treat homes for older people as optional add-ons. They must be central to how we plan and fund housing growth in the years ahead.

National strategy

The forthcoming Housing Strategy for England must take its lead from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, whose final report made the case for a national strategy underpinned by measurable targets.

That includes ensuring that at least 20 percent of the government’s 1.5 million planned new homes in England are suitable for older people – whether that’s age-friendly affordable housing, retirement living or extra care.

Housing insecurity

The challenge is not just about numbers. A growing number of older people are renting privately, often in homes that don’t meet basic accessibility or security needs. Without targeted support, many are likely to face an uncertain future without housing security, or even homelessness – issues that local authorities are already ill-equipped to manage at scale. 

“What we need now is a commitment – one that treats housing for older people not as a luxury, but as a public good.”

All of this points to one conclusion: the spending review must deliver targeted funding for specialist housing for older people, backed by planning reforms and long-term investment strategies. It’s the only way to ensure the country’s housing system is ready for the future.

We have the evidence. What we need now is a commitment – one that treats housing for older people not as a luxury, but as a public good. The window of opportunity is still open. With the Housing Strategy due later this year, and the Spending Review just weeks away, now is the time for government to act.

If we don’t build the right homes today, we’ll be paying the price for decades to come.