Innovation in the Pubic Sector

Newham Launches Inclusive Housing Design Guide

The London Borough of Newham has taken an important step towards more inclusive housing with the launch of a new design guide, created to ensure future homes better meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and neurodivergence.

The guide was developed by occupational therapists and associates  Dr Rachel Russell, Dr Jan Healey and Dr Marney Walker from The Occupational Therapy Service (TOTS). Working in partnership with residents, local planners and service providers, the team co-produced practical recommendations that place health, wellbeing and independence at the centre of housing design.

Newham faces some of the most pressing housing challenges in the country, with high levels of homelessness, overcrowding and a rapidly growing population. The borough’s Strategic Housing Needs Assessment (2022) highlighted more than 6,500 residents with learning disabilities and almost 3,000 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with numbers expected to rise significantly by 2040. At the same time, more than 50,000 new homes are planned in the borough over the next 15 years.

This combination of urgent need and large-scale development made Newham the ideal place to explore how housing could be designed differently. The new guide responds directly to these challenges, offering practical tools for developers, housing associations and local authorities to ensure that future homes are not only accessible but truly supportive of day-to-day life.

The project has been recognised nationally, with a feature in the September edition of OT News Magazine. Its publication highlights the potential for this work to act as a model for other local authorities and housing providers, shaping more inclusive design across the UK. Read the full article here