BBK Manifesto 2025: Fix the UK’s accessible housing shortage
Across the UK, many people are still unable to find housing that meets even basic accessibility needs. Despite long-standing regulations, accessible housing remains scarce, and too often developers treat ‘accessible’ as a loose concept rather than a clear, measurable standard. Both the Government and industry must address this gap so housing works for everyone, we state in our latest Manifesto for Injured People.
Where we stand now
England’s Building Regulations Part M set out three categories of dwellings: M4(1) for basic visitable homes, M4(2) for accessible and adaptable homes, and M4(3) for wheelchair-user dwellings. In 2022 the Government committed to raising standards so all new homes would have step-free access to entrance-level rooms and adaptable features for long-term use.
However, progress has been slow. Research in 2025 revealed only 1% of new housing approved in London is accessible and less than 1% is suitable for wheelchair users. Even where Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are available to fund home adaptations, waiting times and bureaucratic delays can leave people struggling for months. The good practice guide for delivering DFGs and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s 2025 guidance both stress timeliness and clear communication, but without consistent application these standards often fall short.
The missing piece
There is currently no single, Government-endorsed national accessibility guidance for homes and buildings. Such guidance would give developers, architects and planners clear expectations and practical benchmarks, covering features such as step-free access, minimum door widths, turning space for mobility aids, and fully accessible bathroom layouts.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has developed its Inclusive Design Overlay, which is now integrated into the RIBA Plan of Work. This framework embeds accessibility and inclusion into every stage of building design and construction. While this is a significant step forward within the architectural profession, it is not yet mandated in housing policy. Without official adoption, there is no guarantee these principles will be applied consistently in new homes.
Measures that would have immediate impact
Producing official national accessibility guidance, drawing on frameworks like the RIBA Inclusive Design Overlay, would provide clarity across the housing sector and allow planners to apply the same criteria consistently in every region, BBK believes.
Secondly, in addition to the existing Disabled Facilities Grant, a new urgent adaptations grant should be introduced. This would allow people who are newly injured or suddenly face mobility challenges to receive timely funding for essential items such as stairlifts, hoists or ramps. Fast-tracking these adaptations would give people independence more rapidly and could also reduce the burden on local authority budgets by avoiding prolonged interim care.
Thirdly, stronger monitoring and reporting would help identify where accessibility needs are not being met. Councils could be required to publish annual figures showing how many M4(2) and M4(3) homes have been built, alongside the average time taken to deliver adaptations. This data would highlight problem areas and drive improvements.
Why accessibility benefits everyone
Accessible homes are not just for people with permanent disabilities. They support people recovering from illness, and those who want to remain in their homes as they age. A well-designed accessible home allows residents to live independently, reduces the need for costly health and social care, and strengthens communities by enabling people to stay close to their support networks.
Crucially, a shortage of accessible housing has knock-on effects for the health system. When people cannot move into suitable homes, hospital and rehabilitation beds remain occupied longer than necessary, delaying care for others. In some cases, individuals are discharged into inappropriate settings, such as residential care homes designed for older people, which can undermine both their independence and wellbeing.
The cost of incorporating accessibility features at the design stage is small compared to the expense and disruption of retrofitting a home. Yet without clear rules and the right funding mechanisms, these features are often overlooked.
The way forward
Despite the commitments set out in Part M and the 2022 policy changes, accessible housing remains the exception rather than the norm. A clear national guidance informed by the RIBA Inclusive Design Overlay, combined with the introduction of an urgent adaptations grant and robust reporting, would make accessibility the standard in new housing rather than a rare bonus.
Everyone should be able to live in a home that meets their needs. With the right action now, accessible housing can become a reality for far more people across the UK.
This blog is part of our 2025/26 Manifesto for Injured People. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support injured people not only by winning their cases but by driving change. Guided by our clients’ experiences and partnerships with charities across the UK, we are raising awareness of the change we need to see to better support injured people. We will continue working with politicians from all parties to ensure injured people’s needs are not overlooked in Westminster or beyond. You can read our full manifesto here.
