Government design competition for low carbon age-friendly homes

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher has launched a competition to attract the best and brightest talents of the housing industry to design the homes of the future. Small businesses, designers and manufacturers are invited to come forward with ideas for new low carbon, age-friendly homes, meeting the highest standards of design.

These homes will be aimed at meeting the needs of the country’s growing elderly generation, using technology and the latest innovations to improve their quality of life.

Three finalists will have the opportunity to partner with developers to deliver homes on a site owned by Homes England.

This follows the government’s recent consultation on a new Future Homes Standard, which would require all new homes built from 2025 to have 80% fewer carbon emissions.

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher MP said: “This competition will harness all that technology has to offer to bring in a housing revolution: new low carbon homes that deliver low energy bills and independent living for older generations.

“The new gold standard of building will have the future in mind – not just in the United Kingdom, but worldwide.”

Minister for Clean Growth and Energy Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Levelling up environmental standards in new housing across the country is essential to end our contribution to climate change.

“This government is also investing over £6 billion to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, and during this Year of Climate Action we plan to go further to decarbonise buildings, with low carbon heating central to that.”

Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “We want everyone, regardless of age, to live healthier, more independent lives. I’m looking forward to seeing great ideas for homes that will meet people’s needs with older age, and be somewhere you would have pleasure in living.

“Building homes with all generations in mind will help us achieve our Ageing Society Grand Challenge and its mission to make sure we can all enjoy an additional 5 extra years of healthy, independent life by 2035.”

Last year the United Kingdom became the first major economy in the world to sign a commitment to net-zero emissions into law, leading the way in tackling climate change.

Homes are responsible for 25% of carbon emissions in the United Kingdom, and the new competition will place energy efficiency at the forefront of new home design.

And as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, the government is committed to ensuring that people can enjoy at least 5 extra years of healthy independent living by 2035.

More than 10 million people in the UK today can expect to see their 100th birthday, compared to 15,000 current centenarians.

The competition seeks out the highest standards of age-adaptable design, so that as people grow older, they are supported in living independent, fulfilling lives.

Applicants will submit an outline design for homes that are:

• Age-friendly and inclusive – appealing to a variety of age groups and adaptable to how needs will change as people become older
• Low environmental impact – applying technology and construction techniques to deliver net zero carbon emissions
• Healthy living – promoting better health and wellbeing, such as through access to green spaces and communal areas
• Deliverable & scalable – homes that can be rolled-out across the country

To enter the competition, visit the Home of 2030 website. The first phase of the competition will run until Wednesday 15 April 2020.

Further information

Entries will be judged by an expert panel to produce a shortlist of 6 applicants.

The 6 will be asked to develop detailed plans for a specific site scheme.

All 6 will receive £40,000 of funding to help them deliver their plans.

Three winning entries will then be chosen and winners will be introduced to Homes England development partners to explore the possibility of developing bids for a series of homes on Homes England land.

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