Encouraging new-build small, affordable and accessible homes for an ageing population: A Report for the FAAB Small Homes Programme NZ

Abstract

The need for mainstream housing stock to be accessible is critical for our ageing population. There is growing interest in building smaller dwellings, which are better suited to the trend of smaller household sizes, use resources more efficiently, and can be more affordable to produce. However, there are challenges in delivering accessibility and affordability in small dwellings.

In this context, this study explored supply-side perspectives on the opportunities and constraints for building more homes to accessible specifications. Key questions were:

1. What accessible features are easy to include in small homes and what accessible features are challenging to achieve?
2. What is the minimum size that an accessible dwelling can be?
3. Can small dwellings be affordable as well as functional and accessible?
4. How can the industry and housing providers be encouraged to build small, affordable homes with accessible design?

This report presents findings from interviews with organisations engaged in the production of accessible, small dwellings (between 45m2 and 75m2) in the mainstream housing stock. Seven themes were identified:

• Awareness of accessible design
• Use of accessible design
• Intentionality
• Easy-to-include and hard-to-include accessibility features
• Trade-offs between size, affordability and accessibility
• Engaging end-users in accessible design
• Factors enabling accessibility.

Our study found strong support for improving accessibility in mainstream residential stock, and the association of accessibility with quality housing.