With the UK’s rapidly ageing population adding to the housing crisis, the Government has acknowledged in the report that the housing needs of so-called ‘last time buyers’ need to be addressed just as much as first time buyers.

Howard Phillips, Chief Executive of McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading developer of retirement housing, said: “This announcement is the positive result of housebuilders working with government to give a tangible and much-needed boost to the housing market.

"We welcome the announcement of a new deal for housing for older people and that there needs to be a greater focus on providing retirement housing as well as helping first time buyers. With the UK’s increasing number of over 60s, the plight of so-called last time buyers must be given equal weight to those at the start of the housing ladder to address our chronic housing shortage.

“An increase in purpose-built retirement developments would not only better service the needs of the over 60s, but could actually help address the broader issue of housing supply. Older people downsizing facilitates better use of under-occupied family homes and increases the availability of ordinary housing stock for families. The provision of more retirement apartments will aid that process.

“Based on our sales records, two thirds of properties that our residents downsize from have three or more bedrooms. Therefore, for each retirement apartment built, five or six people can be more appropriately housed – one or two older people in the apartment and a traditional family of four who move into the larger home that is vacated. Indeed, for every 5,000 sales of McCarthy & Stone apartments, homes worth a total value of £1.1 billion are freed up to boost local housing supply.”

The Housing Strategy makes specific reference to the need to increase the supply of retirement housing on page 48, stating: “Many older people choose to move home to enable them to remain independent, to release equity and to access appropriate support and care. We will encourage local authorities to make provision for a wide range of housing types across all tenures, including accessible and adaptable general-needs retirement housing, and specialised housing options including sheltered and ExtraCare housing for older people with support and care needs."

“Any details following a review of the tribunal process will have to wait for the outcome of Mr Justice Underhill’s fundamental review next April, although it’s encouraging to see that changes in relation to witness statements and employment judges sitting alone, for example, will be taken forward at an early opportunity.  And we welcome the concept that a rapid resolution scheme might be developed to enable the resolution of more straightforward claims without resort to an employment tribunal.”