Consultation under way on accessible housing
An eight-week consultation has been launched by Moray Council on revised guidance to private developers on accessible housing for the elderly and disabled.
Once approved, the document will form part of the current Moray Local Development Plan.
There is already a shortage of accessible housing in Moray due to demographic change and the increasing number of people requiring suitably designed housing.
The draft supplementary guidance seeks to respond to the shortfall by requiring private sector developers to deliver more accessible housing for sale and increase tenure choice for people requiring this type of accommodation.
Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee has agreed to a public consultation on the proposals which will run until July 1.
A report to the committee stated: “Surveys suggest that over 60% of older people would prefer to move into a bungalow in later life. However, there is a growing under-supply and addressing this mismatch is a challenge for those planning, designing and developing housing for an ageing population.
“The amendments proposed in the revised guidance would provide a mix of house types which more accurately reflects need and demand.
“It is proposed that 50% of private sector accessible housing units are delivered in single storey form – namely, a bungalow. In practice this would mean that the requirement from a development of 100 units would be eight accessible private sector units for sale on the open market - four of which must be bungalows.”
The draft supplementary guidance is available on the council’s website at http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_100442.html
Representations should be submitted by 5pm on July 1 to Development Plans, Development Services, Moray Council, PO Box 6760, Elgin IV30 9BX or e-mailed to localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk
Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.
Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.