Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to address the finding of the report entitled Insight report: a forecast for accessible homes, published by Habinteg in June 2019, that one per cent of homes outside London will meet Building Regulations Approved document M Volume 1 M4(3) wheelchair accessible housing standard by 2030.

On 25 June, the Prime Minister announced that government will consult on mandating higher accessibility standards for new housing, recognising that too many disabled people still live in unsuitable homes. We will bring forward the consultation on improving accessibility standards at the earliest opportunity, ensuring it happens as part of our full review of Part M of the Building Regulations. Habinteg’s report is important evidence which we will look at carefully as part of our review. New Planning guidance was published on 26 June to support councils to put clear policies in place for addressing the housing needs of older and disabled people.

Also announced on 25 June was a new cross-government disability team that will alongside the Government Equalities Office and Race Disparity Unit in a new Equalities Hub at the heart of government. This team will work closely with disabled people, disabled people’s organisations and charities to develop a new approach to disability, with their views and experiences at the forefront of any new policy.