On 23 January 2026, almshouse charity, Guildhall Feoffment welcomed their local MP, Peter Prinsley, for a visit focused on the challenges facing almshouse charities.

Discussions centred on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the ongoing failure to recognise almshouses as affordable housing. As a result, almshouse charities can be subject to Selective Licensing, face Section 106 (S106) charges when developing, and are often unable to access Homes England funding or S106 funding. In addition, almshouses are typically excluded from designated planning routes such as Rural Exception Sites.

These barriers create significant obstacles for charities seeking to provide much-needed housing for older people and those in housing need.

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, commented:

β€œIt is good to see charities raising the issue of the proposed NPPF. It is so valuable for MPs to hear directly from trustees and clerks about the real-world impact of this uneven policy. Simply put, without change we face a future with fewer almshouses being built and more older people experiencing homelessness and loneliness. It is time to fix this anomaly in legislation.”

posted 28 January 2025