I cannot claim to have read the whole plan, but where is housing provision for older people mentioned and where is it explicitly addressed? There is little in the contents that indicates any detailed or significant coverage. The page link below tells me nothing of any consequence. https://consultations.greatercambridgeplanning.org/greater-cambridge-local-plan-first-proposals/ explore-theme/homes/policy-hsh-specialist-housing-and
So, I want to ask: where are the “Retirement Villages” and other facilities for older people? Plenty of care homes are opening up in Cambridge, but there are virtually no decent facilities in and around the city that offer independent living for the more able elderly. (The Felix Hotel plot off Huntingdon Rd would have been ideal, but is planned to become a luxury care home that is unlikely to be used except for the very rich.)
We’ve recently been looking and the only possibilities are in Cambourne or near Stansted. There is a facility near Addenbrooke's that seems to be intended mainly for those with social housing needs. My point is that, if older residents WANT to downsize the options are so limited that we tend to stay put. This means that large family size homes are often occupied by one or two older folk, for want of any realistic options. No one in local government seems to be addressing this issue.
To summarise, the aged 65 and up are currently about 13% of the population, and this figure will rise to 18% by 2041. But housing needs for older people are not being considered as central to the plan. If even 20% of us downsized it would free up housing stock for younger families. But without options to downsize, most of us will stay put. We won’t want to move outside Cambridge, often to preserve ongoing hospital care.
Frankly, it’s about time you took older people seriously. One of the reasons we don’t make a fuss is it’s too much hassle as the years roll on. Why not consult some of the organisations for older people, such as COPE?