Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

Regional Housing Strategy for the East of England: 2005–2010
Policy framework – housing, improving health and well-being
The design and
quality of new
homes
Improving existing
homes and
environments
Local people, and potential new residents should be consulted and
involved in design issues.
Materials should minimise risk to health both in construction and
use.
Joint working between housing, health and social care agencies is
essential in the planning and development of new and emerging
communities.
Housing authorities should use the Housing Health and Safety
Rating to target the most vulnerable properties and occupants and
achieve the Decent Homes target. Improvements should extend
beyond the home to the surrounding environment wherever
possible, involving occupants in the process.
Community safety The layout should design out crime using for example ‘Secured by
Design‘ standards to foster community safety.
RHDG will support the development of the accommodation
pathway of the East of England Strategy for the Rehabilitation
of Offenders. Reduction in re-offending can contribute towards
secure and vibrant communities by reducing the incidence and
fear of crime.
Affordable warmth Housing authorities should continue to promote initiatives such
as ‘warm front‘ to reduce the current regional incidence of fuel
poverty from 6%. In particular they should achieve the target of
raising the energy efficiency of residential housing stock by 20%
by 2010 compared with 2000, and achieve affordable warmth
programmes across the Region by 2006.
Disabled Facilities
Grants
Disabled Facilities Grants should be seen in the wider context of
National Service Framework for Older People, and the regional
research on Active Ageing. Housing providers should review their
accommodation provision as part of the development of Older
People Strategies. Within this they should develop policies for
more efficient use of adaptations arrangements by 2015. This
will include needs research, the use of disabled property registers,
home improvement agencies, relationships between housing and
health professionals especially occupational therapists.
As ODPM is reviewing Disabled Facilities Grants at the time of
writing, RHDG and EERA/RHB will need to develop a strategic
framework with partners following the conclusion of this work.
Overcrowding Housing and health professionals should be aware of the
consequences of overcrowding, and participate in joint activities
to alleviate the situation. They should ensure that needs are taken
into account for new provision, including evidence based need
for larger accommodation for some BME groups. In particular
a review is required of the incidence of overcrowding as a
consequence of provisions in 2004 Housing Act.
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