To ask the Minister for Social Development what plans she has to ensure that new build affordable homes meet the requirements of disabled people.

The Housing Association Guide already requires all new build social housing units to be designed and built to ‘lifetime home' criteria which consist of 17 standards that have been developed to ensure that any social home is flexible, adaptable and accessible. Lifetime Homes are designed to be easily adaptable to accommodate people who develop moderate mobility problems with maximum ease and at minimum cost.

Wheelchair housing is designed for people who are dependant on wheelchairs and require larger areas and circulation spaces. Dwellings designed to the wheelchair standards set out in the Housing Association Guide will accommodate the majority of wheelchair users but there are exceptional cases where the particular needs of a person identified at the outset with the Community Occupational Therapist can be accommodated through special design or purchase.

As far as affordable housing is concerned the Co-ownership scheme is designed to allow choice of dwelling by the purchaser who may buy a dwelling that has been designed or adapted and meets their requirements.

As further types of intermediate housing are introduced my Department will try to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered and accommodated where possible.

All new build affordable dwellings are constructed to the minimum standards laid down in the Northern Ireland Building Regulations. These standards already make provision for disabled persons to access all new housing and may be increased in the future to include even higher standards.