Lord Best: Why all new homes in England should meet the M4(2) building standard | #ForAccessibleHomes News

Lord Richard Stuart Best OBE is a crossbench member of the House of Lords in UK Parliament, and a current member of the Lords Industry and Regulators Committee. Lord Best has long advocated in Parliament for higher accessibility standards for all new homes. In this blog for Habinteg he outlines the broader benefits of M4(2) accessible and adaptable housing and why he believes the Government must make good on the previous administration’s commitment to introduce these improved building regulations.

On top of the problems of housing affordability, the acute shortage of accessible housing is leaving many disabled individuals quite unable to find a place that meets their needs. This not only presents a huge barrier to their independence and well-being, but it also goes against the very notion of a fair and inclusive society. We currently live in times where wheelchair users are subjected to decades-long wait for new accessible housing.

The M4(2) accessible and adaptable building standard offers a beacon of hope in this situation. Championed by organisations like Habinteg, the M4(2) standard provides a set of requirements that would ensure all new homes are accessible and adaptable to the needs of disabled people.

This is why, on 5th February 2024, in the House of Lords, I asked the Housing Minister  when the Government intended to implement on the commitment it had made in July 2022 to raise the accessibility standards for all new homes, and why there had been delays in carrying out a further technical consultation for this.

The Minister told me that the responsibility for this matter now sits with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) carrying out the work. I contacted the new Regulator who said the necessary consultation would be pursued in due course. But the continued delay and slow progress on the technical consultation is a cause for grave concern for the reasons I’ll set out in the rest of this blog.

Urgent need for accessible housing

The current housing stock in England falls far short of what’s required to meet the needs of our growing disabled population.

A report , Disabled people in the housing sector published by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee highlighted this critical shortage, emphasising the negative impact it has on disabled people's ability to live independently.

Many disabled individuals are forced to live in housing that compromises their safety, dignity, and ability to participate fully in society. The M4(2) standard offers a practical and achievable solution to this problem.

By incorporating accessibility features from the outset, M4(2) ensures that new homes are usable by everyone, regardless of their disability. This includes wider doorways, level access showers, and adaptable kitchens that can be modified to suit individual needs.

Such features not only benefit disabled people but can also be advantageous for many older people or those with temporary mobility issues.

Broader benefits of M4(2)

However, the benefits of M4(2) extend beyond simply providing accessible housing.

By creating a more inclusive housing market, M4(2) would help to dismantle the barriers that prevent disabled people from fully participating in society. This would empower them to live independently, engage in employment, and contribute to their communities.

Furthermore, M4(2) reduces the financial and workload burden on the healthcare system by enabling disabled people to live safely and independently in their own homes.

Government must act

The Government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone can live in a safe, secure, and accessible home.

Raising the accessibility standards for all new homes in England to M4(2) is a crucial step in achieving this goal. It is a forward-thinking, inclusive and future-proof measure that would benefit disabled people and the wider society.

For far too long disabled people, older people and families with disabled members have been left feeling trapped and helpless as their homes simply do not meet their needs. This is why the Government MUST act with haste and instruct the Health and Safety Executive to make rapid progress with the technical consultation that will clear the path to a better future.

The time for M4(2) is now.