Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the commitments made in People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper, published on 1 December, what steps they will take to ensure the planning system enables the growth of housing-based care options for older people.

This Government is committed to the provision of homes for older people, including those who require care and support.  As set out in our National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities should already assess the types of specialist housing needed for older and disabled people in their areas, and this should be reflected in their planning policies.

We remain committed to working closely with a range of stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people’s housing sector. This includes considering the merits of different engagement and delivery models, including proposals from the sector for a cross-Government taskforce.