Stockton councilors demand new homes be built accessible for all, reducing future costs and improving independence.
Councilor Barry Woodhouse voices his opinion every time. He thinks every new home should be built for life and should have wider doors and staircases. Stairlifts should be easily installed, and downstairs could be modified for a bathroom. This would reduce pressure on bungalows and help people stay in their homes.
People often can’t stay in their homes due to accessibility. Woodhouse sees resistance to building such homes, but believes every home could have solar panels for energy saving. Building regulations need changes. He is glad the current government is working on this.
Stockton Council reviewed disabled facilities grants, which help people adapt their homes. Grants can be up to £30,000. The grants cover widening doors, ramps, and grab rails, and also include stairlifts, showers, and adapted controls. Extensions for downstairs bathrooms are covered as well.
The council faces a growing waiting list and rising costs. The waiting list reached 322 in December 2024, with a two-year wait from referral to installation. The council will get £2.2 million for the grants from the government. This money should reduce the list by about 100.
A committee report suggests exploring requirements for new builds through planning or government lobbying. Councilor Marilyn Surtees wants to lobby the government for new builds to avoid future adaptations. Councilor Niall Innes says this is a key part already and they must monitor new builds to meet needs.
Michelle Gunn said there is an opportunity to build on this when they review the Local Plan. They suggest lobbying for more funding, and more funding was announced in January 2025. Members want to know how much they will get and the impact of extra funding.
Officers will monitor the funding’s impact. Another idea came from the Royal British Legion, who want a fairer system for ex-service members, where military compensation should not count as income. Councilor Eileen Johnson said they signed the Armed Forces Covenant. They should put money where their mouth is, and compensation for injuries should be discounted, handled the same as civilian compensation.
Councilor Innes supports the British Legion’s involvement and thinks it is worthy to include in the report. Recommendations include a study with Teesside University to study the impact of disabled facilities grants. They want a register of adapted properties and other ideas are improved communication and streamlining processes. Early help, prevention, and flat-pack extensions were mentioned too.
There will be talk with providers about adaptation plans. They would like working with the council to help and ease the pressure on the waiting list. Councilor Innes suggests talking with housing providers and wants them to help with adaptations, too. He wants to ensure the burden isn’t only on the council, and big providers have a role too. The council wants them to take up their role.