The government needs to build 50,000 new homes for older people on an annual basis to tackle the UK’s housing and social care crisis, according to a report from the International Longevity Centre (ILC), supported by The Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO).

The Mayhew Review – written by Professor Les Mayhew, an academic on ageing societies – states that the number of over-65s in the UK is set to exceed 17 million by 2040. According to the report, this means that on top of the current 7,000 homes for older people build each year, an additional 50,000 should be completed – a number equivalent to one in four of all new homes.

The report argues that achieving this growth would help older people stay healthy for longer, and reduce the burden on the NHS and care homes. Each new home would free up housing and surplus bedrooms for younger families and first-time buyers, making housing more affordable, Mayhew insists, adding that new developments could play a major part in revitalising declining high streets.

The report recommends steps for the government to take to reach the housing levels required for older people. These include: reforming planning rules to make it easier to build housing suitable for later life; cutting stamp duty so it is the same for last-time buyers as first-time buyers; and ramping up the financial advice available for older people looking to move.

The government committed to expanding housing-with-care for older people in a series of white papers at the end of 2021 and start of 2022. In addition, it announced the Older People’s Housing Taskforce in February. However, ARCO has observed that the white paper commitments have not yet been acted upon and the taskforce has yet to launch.

“The UK is failing to adapt to the far-reaching changes to society caused by an ageing population,” said Mayhew. “The growth in older people far outstrips the growth in age-appropriate housing – with fundamental change needed in the way we provide care and housing to those in their later years.

“The proposals in my review do not add to public expenditure – investment is not the problem. It just needs co-ordinated action and the weight of Government to get behind it,” Mayhew added.

Michael Voges, chief executive of ARCO, emphasised that the debate on social care is not just about levels of funding but also the kind of settings older people have available to them. “Our country simply cannot afford to go on like it is if we are to rise to the challenges of our ageing population, and I urge the government to move ahead with plans for an Older People’s Housing Taskforce immediately,” he said.

Damian Green MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Longevity, joined the calls for government action. “We’re not just talking about a drop in the ocean in terms of the new homes needed for older people, we’re talking about tens of thousands that need building each year,” he said.

“The government needs to move ahead with its cross-department work to expand older people’s housing, including reforms to planning and strengthening consumer protection.”