National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

undertaking a review in 2010, to ascertain the progress made in adopting the standard, witha view to introducing regulation to make the standards compulsory if the private sector werenot complying voluntarily. However, it is understood that current UK Government policytakes the view that while the building regulations will remain core standards nationally,decisions on provision of specific types of housing or application of additional standards tonew housing are best taken at a local level where local variations and needs can beaddressed in the most appropriate and proportionate manner. This may includerequirements for lifetime homes but, it is understood that it is not currently intended to setthese requirements at a national level.8.25 Understandably, there are many concerns surrounding the economic implications oflifetime housing. The Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland and the JosephRowntree Foundation conducted a comparative study 58 in 2002 into the cost of meeting UKbuilding regulations and lifetime homes standards. It was found that lifetime housing bringsabout many savings and cost benefits in adaptation and flexibility in use, along withincreasing the marketability of the property. However, it is important to have a clearunderstanding of the differing terminologies used in this context, as differing levels ofaccessibility will have varying cost implications.Future Direction8.26 In order to consider how housing can fully meet the needs of all sectors of thecommunity, priority should be given to undertaking an examination of lifetime housing policyin the Irish context. As a starting point, it is essential to develop:• An understanding of what lifetime housing should mean in the Irish context. Thereare many divergent views regarding the scope of current international lifetime homesstandards and whether they are sufficiently flexible to meet the changing needs ofpeople at all stages in life;• An understanding of the initial capital cost of lifetime housing and the impact on thecost of major adaptation works, versus the current cost of such adaptations, withinthe context of an aging population 59 ;• An understanding of the suitability of lifetime housing for all housing, e.g. two-bedterrace units, etc;58Lifetime Homes in Northern Ireland, Evolution or Revolution? (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Chartered Instituteof Housing in Northern Ireland) February 2002.59While lifetime housing will not remove the need for retrofitting, it should significantly reduce the requirementfor major structural adaptations.92