Appendix 5 Housing Need Statement

Appendix 5

Housing Need Statement from DLGE Housing

Appendix 5.

Development of $2 \times$ Two Bedroom Bungalows, Jurby for Older Tenants Client Housing Needs Statement prepared by DLGE

There is a demographic shift taking place within the population of the Isle of Man and society in general. Increased life expectancy, based on improved health care and living standards, has resulted in an ageing population. People are living longer in good health, living longer in frail health, and living longer in single person households.

As in the UK, the demand for Sheltered Accommodation or accommodation aimed at meeting the needs of older people is set to increase as the Island's population ages.

Statistics for the north of the island illustrate the housing need for elderly accommodation alone of 113 applicants on a waiting list for a total of 128 available units, these include apartments and bungalows.

The provision of the proposed bungalows will increase the sustainability of the Jurby Community by enabling elderly residents to vacate family units which have become too large for their current housing need. This in turn will free up general needs accommodation creating opportunities for the 172 applicants on the Housing List for the north of the island.

Additionally the availability of additional bungalows would create some potential opportunities for older people who may need some care and support and who live in other parts of the Island to move closer to other family members. As the cost of Government supported care for the elderly increases the ability of families to support each other is an important consideration. This small development will supplement the existing supply of bungalows in Jurby and provide the Department with a greater degree of flexibility in how they manage the housing stock in the north of the Island.