Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

HO5 Accommodation for older people

Strategic Objectives:

A An open Lewisham as part of an open London,

B Housing tailored to the community with genuinely affordable homes,

G Healthy and safe communities.

A The housing needs of older people will be met mainly through conventional residential accommodation in the C3 Use Class that is designed in a way that allows for easy adaptation to the different needs of users over their lifetime. This includes new build development and the appropriate retrofitting of housing units. Specialist older person’s accommodation and care home accommodation should supplement conventional housing to meet the needs of Lewisham’s older resident population.

Specialist older persons accommodation

B Development proposals for specialist older persons accommodation will only be supported where they:

  • Respond positively to the objectives in Lewisham’s Housing Strategy;
  • Make provision for a mix of tenure types including affordable housing with reference to Policy HO3 (Genuinely affordable housing);
  • Make provision of accessible housing, in line with Policy QD2 (Inclusive and safe design);
  • Are sited at well-connected locations that are well-served by public transport and provide for good access to community facilities and services (including health and social care) appropriate to the intended occupiers;
  • Are of a high quality design with fit for purpose accommodation and facilities suited to occupiers, staff and visitors, giving consideration to:
    1. The level of independence of occupiers and corresponding level of managed care provision or support;
    2. Private, communal and public amenity space; and
    3. Access, parking and servicing arrangements, including for all types of vehicles expected to access the development.

Care home accommodation

C Development proposals for care home accommodation in the C2 Use Class will only be supported where they are appropriately located and of a high quality design, having regard to Policy HO6.B.d-e. In addition, development proposals must ensure that 100 per cent of habitable rooms are wheelchair accessible.

Loss of specialist older persons and care home accommodation

D Development proposals that will result in the net loss of floorspace for specialist older persons or care home accommodation will be refused unless it can be demonstrated that:

  • There is a long-term surplus of this type of accommodation in Lewisham (i.e. there is no unmet local need); or
  • Adequate replacement provision will be provided on-site or elsewhere within the Borough; or
  • The existing accommodation is not suitable to support the intended occupants in its current condition and/or is incapable of being maintained at an acceptable modern standard.

E Where the loss of specialist older persons or care home accommodation is acceptable in line with (D) above, development proposals must secure the re-provision of an equivalent amount of floorspace for residential use, ensuring no net loss of affordable housing, and provide new affordable housing, where appropriate.

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan