Housing and Regeneration Bill

Amendments Nos. 102A and 108A are in my name, and I shall speak to them briefly. Amendment No. 102A would ensure that it is Oftenant’s fundamental objective to supply inclusive housing in its supply of social housing. Social inclusion has been an important objective of government policy but it needs to be future proofed. Amendment No. 108A would give Oftenant an explicit duty to set standards for registered providers in relation to the accessibility of the accommodation, facilities and services that they provide. The Housing Corporation has design standards for new homes and this amendment, which has been sponsored by RADAR, Habinteg Housing Association and Care and Repair, proposes that the new social housing regulator should set standards for housing and the wider built environment and infrastructure as an important component of the Government’s goal of building inclusive communities. I quote from the debate on this amendment in the other place in which Sir George Young states: "““By an inclusive community, I mean something broader than accessible housing. I mean homes and infrastructure that are planned and delivered to empower disabled people and other groups to get out and about … It means accessible and integrated transport, ensuring that facilities are located in places that everyone can reach easily and cheaply and that people in sheltered and supported accommodation can play a full role in a properly mixed community. The Disability Rights Commission has provided some invaluable guidance for planners and housing professionals on what it thinks should be factored into the planning of such communities””.—[Official Report, Commons, Housing and Regeneration Committee. 10/1/08; col. 183-4.]" I apologise that I could not be here when the HCA’s responsibility for accessible housing was discussed. My noble friend showed a deep understanding of the need to ensure that housing and the community infrastructure are capable of meeting the changing needs of the whole population, and that disabled people are not defined as a ghetto group to be dealt with separately. We are all liable to need accessible facilities at some time in our lives. I hope that she will respond accordingly to these two amendments.