Older Peoples Housing Strategy 2025 to 2035 (for Housing Providers)
The Southwark Older People’s (Age-Friendly) Housing Strategy 2025-2035 aims to ensure older residents have access to appropriate, affordable housing that enables them to live independently within their communities.
The key housing challenges for older people in Southwark are:
- Growing Ageing Population: By 2035, Southwark’s 65+ population is expected to increase by 16,000.
- Housing Affordability & Availability: Shortage of affordable housing, including sheltered and flexi-care homes.
- Health and Wellbeing: Rising cases of multi-morbidity and dementia among older residents.
- Care System Strain: High rates of hospital admissions for falls and delayed discharges.
- Downsizing Challenges: Limited support for older people transitioning to smaller, more suitable housing.
- Digital Exclusion: Many older residents lack digital access.
The strategy will take a proactive approach to help our older residents live independently, safely, and comfortably in homes suited to their evolving needs. By working to expand housing options and support services, and prioritising accessibility, the Council aims to help create a sustainable and inclusive future for our ageing population.
Phases
Housing providers feedback - Southwark Older Peoples Housing Strategy 2025 to 2035
We are asking for your views on the strategy to help us understand our older residents housing aspirations and needs, both now and in the future, and what the Council and its partners can do to help meet those aspirations.
Age-Friendly Strategic Housing Priorities
The following priorities have been co-produced with our older residents and other stakeholders, through the Age-Friendly Southwark consultation during 2023 and 2024, and we have framed the strategy around these priorities:
Priority 1: Better access to appropriate and affordable housing for older people
Priority 2: Timely and accessible support to help older people feel safe and stay independently in their homes for longer
Priority 3: Making it easier to downsize into suitable housing
We will assess the number of new homes and support that will be needed between now and 2035 following this consultation and develop an action plan designed to meet those needs as far as possible.
Next Steps
The 12-week public consultation to gather resident feedback ending on 14th July 2025, during which time we will have engagement with all stakeholders, including NHS, social care, housing providers, and local charities.
Once the consultation has ended, we will evaluate the consultation responses and finalise the Strategy for Southwark Council Cabinet for approval.
Thank you for taking part in the consultation and helping us to develop this Strategy.