Sir, The Demos Commission on Residential Care report makes it clear that we need more choice for disabled and older people, on care and housing (“Old people going into care homes ‘only as last resort’ ”, Sept 3). The good news is that it only costs the builder about £1,000 extra to construct a new house in a way that enables it to be easily adapted for disabled people. London has led the way, to the credit of both Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone. Ministers, though, have failed to make this compulsory for new homes outside the capital. This will mean that thousands of us could end up living in Victorian conditions, washing at our kitchen sinks because our houses aren’t suitable for stair lifts.
This idea would improve the lives of thousands of people yet would cost the taxpayer nothing. The government should be using the Deregulation bill next month to make it a reality.
Clare Pelham CEO, Leonard Cheshire Disability
Richard Hawkes CEO, Scope