The HBF consider it important that local plans look to allocate specific sites to meet the needs of older people. In particular the Council must look, in the first instance, to allocate those sites submitted for older people’s accommodation that are in the most sustainable locations close to key services. Whilst some provision will be necessary in the new settlements provision should not be concentrated solely in such locations in order to provide a range of specialist housing and accommodation for older people across Greater Cambridge. In addition, we would suggest that the local plan goes further and looks to set out in policy:
• a target for the delivery of homes for older people and maintains a supply of land to meet that target. Whilst we recognise that there is not a requirement in national policy for the Council to maintain a specific supply of accommodation for older people identifying the level of need and monitoring supply the HBF consider it to be necessary to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and its application. Such an approach would also ensure effective monitoring in relation meeting the needs of older people and encourage positive decision making if there is a deficiency in supply; and
• support and encouragement for older persons accommodation on brownfield and other land in established urban and suburban environments and which is not allocated (for example, windfall sites) given the increasing level of need and that older people are most likely to prefer to continue to reside in established areas with which they are familiar.