Designs fail the disabled

While I support the Housing Corporation's attempts to maximise the number of affordable homes, it has not included acceptable accessibility standards in its standard house designs ("Super Models", 7 November, page 24 ). Instead it has committed public investment to building homes that will fall far short of future needs.

More than two in five social households incorporate a member with a disability or long-term illness (MORI/Housing Corporation 2001) and the average age of the population is increasing. This is not the time to be approving minimum standards in design.

For example, take the single approved design for a wheelchair user. We have identified six areas where the design fails the corporation's own scheme development standards. The introduction of approved house designs provides the ideal opportunity to make a clear commitment to improved standards in social housing.

Such housing built in Northern Ireland and Wales has to meet the Lifetime Homes yardstick: why isn't this the case in England?

We are writing to the corporation to ask that approved types meet scheme development standards. We will also request meaningful consultation on more appropriate designs for the future.

Mike Donnelly, chief executive, Habinteg Housing Association

The lack of accessibility in the Housing Corporation's standard designs adds weight to the argument that the Re-Inventing Investment agenda offers little real help to the work of special needs organisations post-Supporting People. Perhaps we need a new alliance between supported housing providers to tackle the potential investment blight created by the breaking of the revenue and capital investment link, as well as coming up with our own accredited house plans that will meet the needs of all our residents.

Can I also point out that the Advance Housing featured in the article "Super Models" has no connection with registered social landlord Advance Housing and Support. Next year we will be celebrating 30 years of meeting the needs of those with learning disabilities and mental health problems.