To a more inclusive future
Rach wooden, Specialist housing occupational therapist, London boroughs of wandsworth and richmond
If our homes are not built as adequate – and by this I mean inclusive and accessible - we are disadvantaging significant numbers of people, such as our ageing population and those who are disabled. When we design homes with disabled people in mind, we all benefit because many inclusive designs are innovative and useful. But at the moment, only 9% of the homes in the UK meet basic accessibility levels and the numbers of accessible homes planned is woefully inadequate for the needs of our nation.
As a Specialist Housing Occupational Therapist, my role in the London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond is to champion and provide advice on the design and build of inclusive and accessible homes within the Council and with external stakeholders. My post was created 10 years ago after we found that new council and housing association homes, which were meant to be wheelchair accessible, were not fit for purpose. We were having to adapt properties after build completion at an average cost of £25,000 per home, creating delays to residents moving in and taking up Surveyor and Occupational Therapist time. My role now ensures that money and time are not wasted, because all new homes should now be fit for purpose.
I am employed by our Housing and Regeneration Department to work specifically with Housing Association partners who are building new homes and our in-house Development Team who are responsible for our 1000+ homes project. With increasing demand on my time, we have since employed 2 more Specialist Housing Occupational Therapists – one who specifically works with the Regeneration Team who are rebuilding 2 large council housing estates in Wandsworth and another by the Housing Services department to ensure our new accessible homes are matched to those who need them.
There are many aspects to truly inclusive and accessible housing - including designing for neurodiversity, dementia, sight loss and hearing loss – and we try to consider all aspects in the new homes we build. For example, in all our homes we ensure we have accessible thresholds, inclusive fixtures and fittings, suitable flooring types, and we consider colours, tonal contrast and textures. In our homes for wheelchair users we also include carefully designed accessible kitchens, and wet rooms which have contemporary rails to avoid an institutional appearance.
In London, we are fortunate because the London Plan requires 90% of all new homes to be adaptable and accessible (equivalent to the old Lifetimes Homes requirement) and 10% to be wheelchair user homes. I work with planners, developers and architects from pre and planning application stage. I advise on the detailed design of wheelchair accessible homes, including supported and extra care housing. I complete on-site visits throughout the build and final snagging visits before handing over to my colleague who completes viewings with potential residents. My colleagues and I research thoroughly to ensure we are using functional and cost-effective products which can be used in all our homes, but are also contemporary and aesthetically pleasing. I am continually asking developers the question - ‘would you want this product in your own home?’
In Wandsworth and Richmond, we are aiming for our new homes to be truly inclusive, adaptable, accessible and fit for the future - for everyone. All those building new homes around the UK should be encouraged to design to these higher standards. I believe that our model can inspire others who are seeking to build decent housing - including councils, housing associations, alms-house charities, community led housing and church groups - if they are prepared to be creative and innovative in their approach.
As well as being an Occupational Therapist, specialising in the field of inclusive and accessible housing, Rach is also training to be a priest in the Diocese of London. She has just completed a dissertation entitled ‘Disability and housing: how should disability theology influence the theology of housing and the design of our homes?’