Habinteg campaign group sends open letter on accessible housing to Secretary of State, Steve Reed MP | Latest news

Habinteg Housing Association’s Insight Group and social housing and disability sector partners have written an open letter to Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, warning that Government proposals on accessible housing risk “locking millions out of the housing market”.

The letter outlines the signatories’ concern that a proposed change to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – put forward by the government as part of reforms – that suggests at least 40% of new homes be built to the M4(2) accessible and adaptable standard, is “a significant step backwards that risks building the care crisis of tomorrow”.

The Insight Group is a collective of disabled people, housing professionals, and allies campaigning for accessible housing, supported by Habinteg. The group is issuing the letter as part of its recently launched campaign, Connected by Design – the fight for accessible homes , which seeks to increase public understanding of and support for accessible housing.

The Insight Group writes: “The previous Government committed to making M4(2) the mandatory baseline for all new homes through Building Regulations. By pivoting to a 40% threshold within the NPPF, the current proposals effectively suggest that 60% of new homes can continue to be built to an inaccessible standard.

“Decisive action is needed now to prevent future generations from looking back at this 1.5-million-home surge as a missed opportunity that locked millions of disabled and older people out of the housing market.”

The letter calls for the Government to make M4(2) the minimum requirement for all new-build homes under Building Regulations and set specific targets for homes to meet M4(3) wheelchair-user standards, which should start with the 1.5 million new homes promised by the government. The M4(2) standard is not a specialist standard but provides inclusively designed homes that meet the changing needs of a wide range of people over their life course.

Lord Richard Best OBE has signed the letter along with:

• Age UK
• Centre for Ageing Better
• Disability Rights UK
• Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People
• London Tenants Federation
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance
• Inclusive bathroom solutions company, PROCare
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Spinal Injuries Association
• 20 members of the Insight Group.

Dr. Alan Bullion, Insight Group member and member of Tunbridge Wells & Area Access Group, said accessibility for all is a common-sense economic move.

“If all new homes were built to M4(2) or M4(3), it would save lots of money in the long run by reducing the need for costly, retrofitted home adaptations, as well as ensure social equity and greater safety,” he said.

Sarah, a London-based postgraduate student and Insight Group member, said: “I hope this letter will mean that disabled people are listened to and understood by the government. Due to a lack of accessible housing in my area, I’ve had to move to a different county to get temporary council accommodation that’s only partially suitable for me.”

“This has reduced my quality of life, my social support network, and access to adult social care, impacting my health and career prospects. How can young disabled people, like me, be expected to work when they haven’t got a stable and safe place to live?”

Habinteg’s Chief Executive, Martin Warhurst, said: “Accessibility is still being treated as an optional extra, but you cannot create fair, inclusive and future-ready communities without it.

“By mandating a 100% M4(2) baseline, supplemented by local targets for M4(3) wheelchair-user homes, this government can deliver a housing stock that is truly built to last.”

The Insight Group will be connecting with All-Party Parliamentary Groups relating to housing, social care and health, to continue its Connected by Design campaign in the lead up to Habinteg’s Accessible Homes Week taking place from 12-16 October 2026.

The Insight Group is calling on the public to read the letter and to follow and share the campaign on our Instagram page. To learn more about the Insight Group and the letter, visit www.habinteg.org.uk/group.

Image: Habinteg CEO, Martin Warhurst (top left); Insight Group member,  Kerry Thompson (bottom left); Insight Group member Benjamin James (bottom right); Swindon MP, Will Stone (top right).