Supported Housing Design and Ethos Guide

Foreword

This Design and Ethos Guide is in advance of the standards that will be laid out through the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 and is to enable the council and our development partners to continue to effectively deliver much needed supported accommodation across North Yorkshire. Consequently, this guide will be reviewed and updated as the Act itself sets out the future standards for supported housing and we ask you to refer to our website to check for the latest version.

North Yorkshire Council is engaged within an ambitious project to facilitate the delivery of accommodation with care to meet the needs of our current and future communities.  Through the Health and Adult Services (HAS) directorate we are undertaking an ambitious transformational programme to facilitate the delivery of accommodation with support and/or care to meet the needs of our current and future communities. The vision is to enable people to live independently for longer in a home of their own and enable them to play an active role in their local community. North Yorkshire Council will commission a wide range of good quality, well designed accommodation to meet people’s needs now and in to the future. This accommodation will provide a vibrant, safe, attractive, and sustainable environment for people to lead good, ordinary lives, according to their own aspirations. This will involve working closely with supported living providers to meet the needs of vulnerable people in the county, including: 

  • people with a learning disability
  • people with mental wellness requirements
  • long-term conditions including physical disability
  • complex needs
  • cognitive impairment
  • sensory impairment

The accommodation should provide individuals support to live independently and consider changes that may occur in health, support and increased needs providing a real choice of decent, accessible and affordable housing options which will:  

  • be adaptable, flexible and future proofed accommodation
  • be well-designed and maintained providing a spacious and contemporary home which considers the changing needs of people within the design and fit out
  • be responsive to sensory and cognitive needs
  • maximise the use of all outdoor spaces, encouraging participation and activity
  • be energy efficient and sustainable in design where possible
  • create a sense of peace and well-being through living in a safe, clean and pleasant environment
  • provide individuals with privacy, comfort, support and companionship
  • be a welcoming and easily accessible building that will engender a sense of ownership, in both individuals who live there and staff who work within the building
  • create a strong sense of place and community
  • enable access to appropriate infrastructure in terms of transport, shopping and recreation
  • provide a real voice in matters affecting home and community

Strategies are already in place across North Yorkshire which underpin this design and ethos guide which include future plans to enable people to remain safe and independent in their own homes, improving the lives of people with a learning disability , developing mental health services and promoting wellbeing  and the forthcoming all-age autism strategy.

1. Definition of supported living

The government defines supported housing in the Guidance - Supported housing: national statement of expectations (2020), however, to remove confusion or ambiguity in relation to the term “supported living”, North Yorkshire Council has developed the following definition:- 

“Supported Living is a home of your own that you are supported to live in. This must include both of the following elements: 

  • housing-related support, including living skills and help to maintain a tenancy and; 
  • eligible care and support needs to help with any care or support you might need to live independently. 

    Supported Living accommodation can be shared with other people who need support to live independently, or an individual property in a range of different housing options depending on what is available in the local area. This can include people who live alone. 

    There may be a shared element to the care related support available, which will be apportioned between the tenants.” 

2. Supported living principles 

“Every person has the right to express choice, whether with or without words. Everyone should be included in designing their own lives and the support they need to do this.”  Reach Standard

The principles of supported living should enable people to own or rent their home and have control over the support they get, who they live with (if anyone) and how they live their lives.  Supported living assumes that all people regardless of the level or type of disability, are able to make choices about how to live their lives, even if the person does not make choices in conventional ways. The commonly accepted set of principles are defined in the Reach Standards in supported living as:-

  • I choose who I live with
  • I choose where I live
  • I have my own home
  • I choose how I am supported
  • I choose who supports me
  • I get good support
  • I choose my friends and relationships
  • I choose how to be healthy and safe
  • I choose how to take part in my community
  • I have the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens
  • I get help to make changes in my life

These principles together with National Development Team for Inclusion’s (NDTI) The Real Tenancy Test  are supported by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) within its policy document – Registering the Right Support.

3. Design principles  

This guide is intended for use by everyone involved in the development of supported living to assist in achieving high quality and sustainable ‘places for living’. It will support the achievement of high standards of design and construction and will provide North Yorkshire Council with the tools to challenge poor design. The design of specialist accommodation often requires discussion and development of detailed layouts and some issues may not present obvious or standard solutions. Therefore, this document is not intended to be prescriptive. The guidance contained herein should be relevant to new, purpose-built accommodation and the refurbishment of older properties. It represents good practice and is not a definitive interpretation of current building regulations. It is accepted that physical constraints of older buildings will present challenges but wherever possible the guidance in this document should be considered.  

Supported living is not about a specific housing model but models of housing that enable someone to have their own tenancy and to choose their personal care, increasing choice and control and access to welfare benefits.   

The design of the accommodation, selection of equipment, signage, internal colour and finishes and landscaping should enable the independence of people who have mobility problems, may be physically frail, or who may have a visual, hearing or cognitive impairment. To achieve best practice the following principles should be considered in any planned accommodation.   

4. Complete and thorough design 

Good design promotes quality of life for the residents and users of buildings. This includes function – buildings should be easy to use. It also includes comfort, safety, security, amenity, accessibility and adaptability. Well-designed accommodation should be efficient and cost effective to run. Features should be incorporated that help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to encourage sustainable lifestyles. Natural ventilation should be maximised to avoid overheating and minimise sound pollution and promote good air quality. Well-designed buildings will have building safety requirements under other legislation in mind from the outset to provide a safe and secure environment for occupants and users.  Buildings must allow ease of access for emergency services, facilities for the safe access to and from the building in the event of evacuation. 

Dialogue should be maintained with commissioners, local planners and the wider local community prior to any building works commencing. If design or planning problems are encountered, the most constructive solution can often result from sharing them and working towards a commonly agreed solution. 
 
A well designed place, building and space will:   

  • have a positive and coherent identity that everyone can identify with including residents and local communities, so contributing towards health and well-being, inclusion and cohesion
  • create identity and variety – a safe environment where residents and the community have a sense of belonging and ownership
  • be designed to encourage friendships; knowing your neighbours and enjoying the use of shared spaces
  • encourage wellness activities in external and internal spaces
  • create an external environment with multi-use opportunities which is bio-diverse using materials/landscaping which will endure and improve over time

5. Design guidance  

Again, in advance of the supported housing standards being set through the new Act, this design and ethos guide takes a lighter touch than others, such as the council’s own  Accommodation With Care Design and Ethos Guide (2023) (pdf / 3 MB). Therefore, it is the council’s aspiration that where possible the principles established in this and other design standards and guidance are incorporated into new supported living developments, including (in no particular order): 

Along with the breadth of design guidance, especially relating to specific vulnerable groups, collated on the Housing LIN’s design hub.   

6. Design standards

In advance of the of the standards that will be laid out through the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 and to enable the council and our development partners to continue to effectively deliver much needed supported accommodation across North Yorkshire, the council’s current design standards are summarised below. Our preferences, especially for new build schemes include: 

  • self-contained units
  • ground floor units, where practical, to be wheelchair accessible to M4(3) standards, with remaining units at least M4(2) standard. Any M4(3) units above ground floor will need level access to two lifts, to maintain effective access
  • tenure blind 
  • accessible to local community and facilities

Accommodation located above or adjacent to any of the following establishments will be unacceptable:

  • restaurants
  • fast food outlets
  • commercial premises where hazardous substances are kept
  • minicab offices
  • clubs or pubs or other noisy and /or late-night opening premises

7. Design standards 

Tenant Group 

  • learning disability
    • essential number of units: self-contained up to 16; shared up to eight
    • preferred number of units: self-contained up to 12
  • challenging behaviour
    • essential number of units: self-contained up to six
    • preferred number of units: self-contained up to six
  • mental health
    • essential number of units: self-contained up to 12; shared up to eight
    • preferred number of units: self-contained up to 12

Type of units

  • size of self-contained units
    • essential: 
      • self-contained shower room at least 37 metres squared
      • self-contained bathroom at least 39 metres squared
      • self-contained (wheelchair) must meet Part M4(3)(2)(b) wheelchair accessible two person (one bedroom) unit guidance
    • preferred:
      • self-contained shower room at least 45 metres squared
      • self-contained bathroom at least 47 metres squared
      • meet minimum M4(2) space standards, ideally M4(3)(2)(b) wheelchair accessible two person (one bedroom) unit guidance for all level access ground floor units
      • self-contained (wheelchair) at least 56 metres squared and minimum Habinteg Wheelchair Design Guide standards for a two person (one bedroom) unit
  • size of shared accommodation units
    • essential:
      • shared for up to three tenants: kitchen at least seven metres squared, lounge / dining at least 11 metres squared
      • shared for up to four tenants: kitchen at least 10 metres squared, lounge /dining at least 14 metres squared
    • preferred:
      • shared for up to three tenants: kitchen at least eight metres squared, lounge / dining at least 12 metres squared, a second lounge
      • shared for up to four tenants: kitchen at least 11 metres squared, lounge /dining at least 18 metres squared, a second lounge
  • size of bedrooms
    • essential:
      • self-contained at least 10.22 metres squared
      • self-contained (wheelchair) at least 13.5 metres squared and must meet Part M 4(3)(2)(b) two person (one bedroom) unit sizes
      • shared at least eight metres squared plus an ensuite
    • preferred:
      • self-contained at least 15 metres squared
      • self-contained (wheelchair) at least 15 metres squared and Habinteg Wheelchair Design Guide standards for a two person (one bedroom) unit
      • shared at least 10.22 metres squared plus an ensuite
  • bathrooms
    • essential:
      • self-contained bathroom at least 4.09 metres squared
      • self-contained shower room at least 3.6 metres squared
      • ratio of bath / shower rooms in shared unit is a minimum of one bathroom per three people, ideally two people
      • separate staff facilities plus general toilet
      • the bath / shower room is to be no more than one floor away from a tenant's bedroom and must not require access through a communal room, such as a kitchen or lounge, so as to help maintain dignity
    • preferred:
      • self-contained unit bathroom at least M4(3) compliant wet-room sizes with access from bedroom and hallway
      • shared unit - ensuite to every bedroom of a minimum of 3.6 metres squared
      • and communal assisted bathroom with Parker-style bath and ceiling track hoist approximately 15 metres squared

Health and safety

  • Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) introduced by the Housing Act 2004
    • essential: be free from Category 1 and significant Category 2 hazards 
  • Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998:
    • essential: all gas appliances compliant and a current Gas Safety Certificate provided 
  • fire safety:
    • essential: 
      • Fire Safety Certificate
      • a robust Fire Risk Assessment 
      • Evacuation Plan in line with Fire Risk Assessment and as necessary Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for those tenants that need one
      • fused isolation switches above counter top for hob, oven and white goods
    • preferred:
      • fire alarms and protection to be in accordance with the Fire Safety in Specialised Housing guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council
      • automatic cut-off device for kitchen hob, for example a Fire Chief Stove Guard
  • building control
    • essential: any work carried out at the property, which requires either building regulation approval or development control consent has such approval 
  • heating and thermal comfort
    • essential: 
      • properties should be energy efficient with consideration given to total energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and summer cooling, as well as winter heating
      • a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be obtained before a property is rented and must be renewed every 10 years. All new properties must have an EPC of C or above, with existing properties complying with current legal requirements (for example band E)  
      • a copy of a current NICEIC / EICR certificate is provided  
      • low surface temperature radiators (with TRV’s), or under floor heating with controls for bedroom and lounge as a minimum
      • thermostatic mixing valves to all hot water outlets  
  • window Locks
    • essential: all windows above ground floor will require restrictors (for health and safety purposes)
    • preferred: windows and doors should meet secure by design principles
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
    • essential: lockable cupboard for COSHH or medication in apartment kitchens

Other design features

  • services and utilities
    • essential: domestic utility supplies preferred, rather than commercial
    • preferred: each tenant's flat / property to have their own designated utility meters with the freedom to choose their own domestic supplier(s)
  • soundproofing
    • preferred: increase levels of soundproofing between rooms (shared) / dwellings (self-contained), to provide  privacy and allow different activities (including work and study) to take part simultaneously throughout the property. Party walls should achieve internal airborne sound-insulation values that are at least five dB above Approved Document E; and impact sound insulation values that are at least five dB lower
  • staff facilities
    • essential: minimum of seven metres squared room to function as an office and sleep-over, plus their own shower room with toilet
    • preferred: the footprint of an apartment used to provide the required staff and communal facilities - these may vary from scheme to scheme
  • door entry and security
    • preferred: 
      • video door entry systems to enable tenants to have greater control of who accesses the property
      • secured by design supported housing standards to be achieved
  • technology enabled care
    • essential: internet access by LAN or Wi-Fi for a centralised call system to support installation of assistive technology / computer, telephone, internet
    • preferred: all apartments and internal communal rooms to include a telecare overlay solution that is compatible with the equipment provided by the council's appointed provider
  • gardens and outside space
    • essential:
      • access to communal or private outdoor space of at least five metres squared per tenant
      • any communal outside green space should be secure, overlooked by residents of the scheme, but not neighbours, and be available and accessible to all tenants and their visitors, including wheelchair users
    • preferred:
      • self-contained units to have access to private outdoor space of at least five metres squared per tenant, with a minimum depth of 2.5 metres squared
      • any balconies to be level access for wheelchairs with 1,500 turning space away from door swing
  • parking
    • essential: minimum on-road parking that can meet the needs of tenants and any care staff
    • preferred: provide sufficient accessible facilities for tenants and staff, for example:
      • one space per bedroom or unit as well as sufficient staff parking within the site
      • secure cycle parking, including for adapted cycles for disabled people
      • electric vehicle charging points if car parking is provided
      • secure charging points for mobility scooters and wheelchairs with appropriate fire protection
      • access for emergency and service vehicles, and pick-up and drop-off

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