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Study purpose and focus

There are a broad range of housing products available that are designed for older people, including different accommodation types, services, adaptations and facilities. These homes are intended to improve the wellbeing of occupants, and will also release fiscal savings, for example, by reducing burdens on health services.

In November 2022 Homes England commissioned SQW to carry out a research study to capture the fiscal and wellbeing impacts associated with housing for older people. SQW, supported by Qa Research, Joanne Smithson of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, and Colin Warnock Associates, undertook a research study to develop evidence of the wellbeing and fiscal impacts associated with the provision of housing for older people, so that these can be used in economic appraisals and value for money assessments. This research identified values for both wellbeing and fiscal impacts, suitable for inclusion within Green Book compliant business cases.

Methodology

To articulate how the provision of housing for older people impacts upon residents’ wellbeing, SQW developed a wellbeing framework and theory of change. SQW then designed a paper-based survey which was distributed by several medium and large developers of older people’s housing to their residents across England. Prior to distribution, SQW ran a series of discussion groups to explore the survey with people living in specialist older people’s housing, to ensure suitability.

SQW’s subcontractor Qa Research used the survey to carry out a series of 400 Computer Aided Telephone Interviews with people aged 65+ living in general market housing, to provide comparator data.

Alongside the primary data collection, SQW undertook a rapid review of the existing evidence base to identify the fiscal impacts associated with older people’s housing, and assessed the quality and rigour of the existing evidence base.

Results from the surveys, interviews and fiscal impacts review were analysed to inform production of the study report. SQW undertook econometric analysis and followed HM Treasury Wellbeing Guidance for Appraisal[1] to generate a figure associated with the identified wellbeing effects and fiscal impacts, for use in economic appraisal of housing development.  

Report and contacts

The report has now been published by Homes England and can be accessed here.

For further information regarding the study, please contact the economic appraisal team within Homes England: economic.appraisal@homesengland.gov.uk

[1] Green Book supplementary guidance: wellbeing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)