St Mary's Professor Merlin Stone Comments on Housing White Paper

Professor of Marketing and Strategy at St Mary’s University, Merlin Stone, who is currently undertaking research into the older adult in Europe, commented on the release of the Government’s Housing White Paper: "The suggestion that the housing White Paper will make it easier for elderly people to move into sheltered accommodation is a positive step forward, but this accommodation does not currently exist in high enough quality, or large enough quantity. "We need to consider the housing market in the UK as a chain from first homes, through to family homes and on to retirement. "According to RICS, currently 37 per cent of UK homes are under-occupied by older people. Moving quickly but sensitively to tackle this issue by providing suitable and attractive housing to an older and increasingly tech-savvy generation could do much to solve the wider housing crisis and help today's over 65s live independently. “The economic impact of failing to provide adequate housing options for older people is twofold: “Firstly, the increase in the cost of caring for an older person in a home that is not equipped to meet their needs will impact the cost to the taxpayer significantly.” “Secondly, failure to build warm, safe, technologically smart and attractive homes for older people will lead to a scarcity of family homes on the housing market, therefore increasing overall house prices. “The Paper demonstrates very little understanding of the positive effects of combining the best in technology, housing construction and health and care innovation. “Britain is one of the most innovative nations in Europe, so the lack of practical proposals to improve housing for the next generation of older adults is disappointing. However, I remain hopeful that this is a point on which the UK Government will seek advice in the near future, as it seeks to implement its proposals.”