As Britain's population ages, the government is amending its home construction rules to build houses that would suit the needs of senior Britons. The age-friendly features of lifetime homes must include mobility for wheelchair-bound residents, better access to toilets, improved lights and well-designed parking slots.

British Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Caroline Flint recently came up with a list of 16 features the age-friendly units must have. In 2010, the government will initiate a review how fast has the private sector adapted the new requirements. By 2011 all new social housing must be built per lifetime homes specifications, while by 2013 all new homes must be wheelchair friendly.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in his forward at the policy document, said, "I want our homes to be placed that help us adapt as we age-safe and familiar havens rather than obstacle courses to be negotiated each day."

Brown added, "That's why I was clear that we should become one of the first governments in the world to publish a strategy for housing in an aging society, setting out our commitment to giving people more influence over their own lives as they grow older and helping them stay comfortable and secure in their homes."

By altering national standards on home constructions, the U.K. seeks to reduce by 60 percent the number of falls suffered by the elderly, which reach 1.25 million incidents a year and costs the National Health System $1.5 billion (750 million pound) in health bills.

The major features of a lifetime home include side access to bath and toilet, stair lifts, platform lift to the bedroom, low window sills, adaptable walls, space for temporary entrance-level bed, living room at entrance level, short distance from car park, easy movement from bedroom to bathroom, plus and switches are reachable levels, entrance-level toilets, sufficient space in doors, hallways and living room for wheelchair to navigate and turn a full circle, covered thresholds, wider parking spaces and sloping approach to front door.

Builders, however, are cautious of the new features. Roger Humber, spokesman of the 800-member House Builders Association, said the group is seeking an urgent dialogue with the government to seek a better explanation on how the new features will work, the value for majority of home owners and benefits of the new policy.