Thanks to everyone who attended our Later Living conference at The Building Centre in London.

We heard from a range of industry experts on topics relating to the wider development of homes which speak to the changing needs, attitudes and requirements of real people who form part of our growing, and increasingly diverse older population. 

Speakers included:

• Professor Judith Phillips OBE, Deputy Principal and Professor of Gerontology, University of Stirling and Older People’s Housing Taskforce Member
• Jeremy Porteus, Chief Executive, Housing Learning and Improvement Network and Older People’s Housing Taskforce Member
• Abdul A Ravat, Head of Development and Relationships, Abbeyfield Society and Chair of the National Housing Federation's Older Person’s Housing Group
• Samantha Rowland, Head of Healthcare and Senior Living, BNP Paribas Real Estate
• Rama Gheerawo, Director, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art
• Matt Richardson, Design and Development Director, McCarthy & Stone
• Martin Brown, Managing Director of Special Projects and Strategic Relationships, McCarthy & Stone
• Dr Chris McGinley, Senior Research Fellow, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art
• Dr Cecilia Zecca, Research Fellow, Design Age Institute, Royal College of Art
• James Pickard, Principal & Founding Director, Cartwright Pickard
• Richard Griffiths, Senior Architect, Cartwright Pickard
• Sarah Roe, Associate Director, Nexus Planning
• Sushil Pathak, Sustainability Director, Cudd Bentley
• Nigel Thomas, National Specification & Projects Manager, ABB Electrification

To supplement and underpin our experts' thinking, Dr Cecilia Zecca, Richard Griffiths and James Pickard offered an introduction to our Government-funded research project alongside The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at The Royal College of Art which saw the compilation of over 50 of the world's 'best' later living schemes. 

This longlist was refined to 13 through extensive research comprising cultural probing and interviews with residents, and their commonalities uncovered e.g. dual aspect, natural ventilation, in close proximity to greenery.

These commonalities would go on to influence the development of our new guiding principles and feature in our upcoming publication alongside supplementary context on how and why our exemplars were chosen. 

It will be widely available within the coming weeks and can be applied to guide the improved development and design of later living homes for the widest number of people, ensuring an equitable future for the sector and senior housing for generations to come.

Thanks again to a wonderful audience, and impassioned speakers for their crucial perspectives and continued support. We couldn't have done it without you and look forward to building on our collective momentum to make a tangible difference.

Credits

Research partners: Cartwright Pickard and the RCA Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design

Industry partners: McCarthy Stone, Cudd Bentley, ABB, LinkCity Bouygues.

With thanks to: Nexus Planning, Housing Learning and Improvement Network, Abbeyfield Society, BNP Paribas Real Estate, Older People’s Housing Taskforce and Professor Judith Phillips at University of Stirling

Research part funded: by Innovate UK