BBK Manifesto 2026: Close the UK’s accessible housing gap
Across the UK, many people still cannot find homes that meet even basic accessibility needs. Despite long‑standing regulations, genuinely accessible housing remains in short supply, and too often developers treat “accessible” as a vague label rather than a clear, measurable standard. This gap must be addressed by both Government and industry so that housing works for everyone – a key message in our latest Manifesto for Injured People.
Since our last Manifesto, we have seen progress go in the wrong direction and this year we’re calling for clear national accessibility standards for new homes, backed by Government support and stronger monitoring to ensure they are delivered.
In February 2026, it was reported that the Government was freezing the budget for a scheme that pays for “life‑changing” home adaptations for disabled people – despite Stephen Kinnock Minister of State for Care, insisting he was “putting more money” into it. Stephen Kinnock stated that £723 million would be spent on the programme in 2026–27. This is compared to £761 million that was available the previous year.
More recently, Habinteg Housing Association’s Insight Group and disability sector partners, including the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), have written to Housing Secretary Steve Reed, warning that proposed planning reforms could leave millions of disabled and older people excluded from suitable housing.
In 2022, the Government committed to raising standards so all new homes would have step-free access to entrance-level rooms and features that could be adapted as needs changed over the long term. However, in December 2025, we saw Government plans to dramatically scale back targets for accessible new‑build homes in England to just 40%. Critics and campaigners called the change to the M4(2) regulations a “monumental reversal” that would leave many disabled people feeling “betrayed and excluded”.
Habinteg Housing Association’s Insight Group says the change risks worsening future care and housing challenges and is calling for stronger action to ensure new developments are accessible by design.
While the proposals would require 40% of new homes to meet the M4(2) standards, the proposals set no minimum requirement for M4(3) wheelchair‑accessible homes – despite disability groups arguing that at least 10% of new homes should meet this standard.
The shift marks a significant retreat from the previous Conservative government’s pledge to make all new homes compliant with M4(2), a commitment intended to raise accessibility across the entire housebuilding sector.
How this impacts our clients and other injured people
We are still seeing people waiting years for an accessible home after injury. For some, the only option becomes a nursing home that is ill-equipped and inadequately trained to deal with spinal cord injury. As a result, we are increasingly seeing clients develop avoidable secondary complications such as pressure ulcers and deteriorating mental health.
Even where disabled facilities grants are available to fund adaptations, waiting times and bureaucratic delays can again leave people waiting months and sometimes years for appropriate accommodation.
On the flipside, a properly adapted home can mean an entirely different way of life for someone with a disability. It can aid their rehabilitation and care, improve mental health, preserve privacy and dignity and also create a better quality of life for the whole family.
We’re seeing huge swathes of people living in limbo without suitable housing. In Cornwall, there is no planning policy for wheelchair‑user housing, according to Habinteg Housing Association.
As of February 2026, 3,070 households are waiting for an accessible social home in Cornwall, including 361 wheelchair‑user households — yet no accessible social homes are currently available, according to Cornwall Council. Wheelchair users make up 11% of the waiting list, but the Local Plan contains no requirement for new wheelchair‑user homes.
What needs to change?
A major barrier to delivering accessible homes is the absence of a single, government‑endorsed national accessibility standard. Without clear guidance, developers apply different rules across the country, creating a postcode lottery in the quality and consistency of accessible housing.
Although the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has embedded its Inclusive Design Overlay into the RIBA Plan of Work – a framework that integrates accessibility at every stage of design and construction – it remains voluntary. Until it is formally adopted in housing policy, there is no guarantee these principles will be applied across new developments.
There is also a wider structural issue: placing full responsibility for accessibility on developers is unrealistic. With rising construction costs and contractors under pressure, the cheaper and easier option will often win out. Accessibility does come with additional costs, and it is unreasonable to expect the industry to absorb these alone. Government support is essential.
Measures that would have an immediate impact
Introducing official national accessibility guidance, informed by frameworks such as the RIBA Inclusive Design Overlay, would give the entire housing sector a clear, consistent benchmark and allow planners to apply the same criteria in every region.
We are also calling for stronger monitoring and reporting. Councils should be required to publish annual data on the number of accessible and wheelchair‑accessible homes delivered, as well as the average time taken to complete adaptations. Transparent reporting would highlight where needs are not being met and drive targeted improvements.
Why accessibility benefits everyone
Accessible homes benefit far more than people with permanent disabilities; they support anyone recovering from illness and help people stay in their homes as they age. Good design enables independence, reduces pressure on health and social care, and keeps people connected to their communities.
The shortage of accessible housing also creates a serious strain on the NHS. When people cannot move into suitable homes, hospital and rehab beds stay occupied longer than necessary, delaying treatment for others. Some are even discharged into inappropriate settings, such as older people’s care homes, which can undermine their independence and wellbeing.
Crucially, building accessibility from the start costs far less than retrofitting later. Yet without clear standards and proper funding, these features are still too often overlooked.
This blog is part of our 2026/27 Manifesto for Injured People. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support injured people not only by winning their cases but by driving positive change. Guided by our clients’ experiences and partnerships with charities across the UK, we are raising awareness of the changes needed 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.
