Plan to create age-friendly homes

Under the proposals, developments will have to be "age friendly" with appropriate facilities and features such as access to public toilets, better lighting and more desirable parking bays.

Builders aired concern over the cost of the measures, but campaign groups welcomed the new initiative.

The "Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods" strategy is aimed at avoiding costly adaptations to homes in the future and designing communities around "older peoples' aspirations".

Described by officials as "the first of its kind in the world", the approach comes amid rapid growth in the number of older households, which is expected to continue over the next two decades.

It is hoped that the strategy will help more elderly people live independent lives with reduced risk of accident. Research suggests that falls can be reduced dramatically by safety modifications in the homes.

As part of the strategy, the Government pledged that all public housing will be built to Lifetime Homes Standards by 2011. Private new builds will be encouraged to do likewise on a voluntary basis at first. But this will be reviewed in 2013, with the possibility of regulation if industry is deemed to be dragging its heels.

The House Builders Association, which represents around 800 developers, aired concern that there had been "inadequate consultation" over the plans. Roger Humber, spokesman for the association, said: "We are asking ministers for urgent discussions to try to understand how they think it will work, what the value will be for the majority of homebuyers and what they believe the benefits to be."

But Paul Cann, director of policy and external relations at Help the Aged, said: "This strategy is enormously important. Housing is the backbone of older people's quality of life, affecting their health, well-being and independence."

Announcing the measures, housing minister Caroline Flint, said: "The vast majority of people want to stay independent in a suitable home as they get older. We have a responsibility to support that desire by increasing the housing choices that are available. Meeting the needs of an ageing population is one of the major challenges we are facing as a society."