The lack of housing in the UK has affected many people in different ways, with those suffering mobility issues among them. While some want to stay in their current home and would benefit from stairlifts to go on living there, others might like the option of moving to a purpose-built single-floor mobility home.
Logically, the likelihood of someone being able to find the latter will increase if more homes are being built, provided there is enough emphasis by developers or local authorities on constructing them. But can we expect this to happen soon?
The change of government has brought with it pledges by the government to reform planning law, with the new chancellor Rachel Reeves pledging to “get Britain building”. This includes a pledge to reclassify some bits of the green belt as ‘grey belt’.
Based on this, one might assume that many more houses are on the way and those with mobility issues may get more choice between single-storey homes or modifications to existing dwellings like stairlifts. But it may not be so simple.
Firstly, even though the government has a landslide majority and a fresh mandate, some within its ranks may not be fully on board with its planning reforms.
These include Sarah Coombes, the new MP for West Bromwich, who has pledged to oppose a new housing development on greenbelt land at Peak House Farm in Great Barr. This is not a rural area by any means, being yards from the boundary between Sandwell and Walsall.
Whether other MPs in constituencies in and around Birmingham – and around the UK – will take the same view about their nearest greenbelt remains to be seen.
In addition, while developers might indeed build more homes, unless there are some regulations in place about what kind of properties they build, there is no guarantee the needs of those with mobility issues will be met.
For that reason, even with more new homes (whether or not they are built in Great Barr), those with mobility issues may still be much better off fitting stairlifts than waiting for the ‘right’ property to turn up.
