Planning for an Ageing Population SPD

The borough's population is ageing as a result of improved lifestyles, diets, and medical advancements. This situation must be planned-for now, so that the borough's homes and neighbourhoods are suitable for the rising number of older people.

As part of its local planning strategy the council has developed a Planning for an Ageing Population Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This document provides guidance for producing homes that will be flexible to meet the changing needs of residents; for creating inclusive communities that will be welcoming and accessible for people of any age, ability or background; and for the development of care homes and retirement communities.

This SPD provides a local context for the Government's Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society. This SPD forms part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) and sets policy that will be a material consideration in relevant planning decision making. The production of the SPD has been informed by Sustainability Appraisal (SA).

The SPD and SA were subject to a six-week public consultation in March and April 2010. Following this consultation a final version of the SPD was produced taking comments received into account, and the final SPD was adopted by the council on 30th September 2010. This SPD, its associated documents and the checklists for submission with relevant planning applications, can be viewed or downloaded below. The recommendations in this SPD will be used in decision making for relevant planning applications.

If you have any questions regarding this SPD and how it should be applied in a planning application, please either phone the planning policy team on 01628 796115 or e-mail: planning.policy@rbwm.gov.uk

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