Question 9 relates to the adoption of new optional technical housing standards issued by the Government. It also relates to RDC's proposal to require a % of dwellings for "older people".

Housing for older people - The DaSa set out 6 tentative options relating to the provision of housing for older people. Option A, D and E propose to seek a proportion of market and affordable housing to be either housing specifically designed for older people, or housing targeted at older people. The Dasa suggest that these options should be seen as complementary to the existing Core Strategy policy requiring 30% 1 and 2-bed homes in rural areas and to the above proposed policy on accessible and adaptable housing.

No information is provided on what would be required in order for a house to be considered as "specifically designed for older people". However, it is considered that this policy is duplicating the access standards policy above, which, if adopted, would already provide an element of dwellings that are suitable for older people. Anything beyond this would require specific retirement development/care homes type
development. It is not considered 'Justified 'to require a percentage of housing on each housing allocation to be specialist retirement housing.