The government has confirmed its commitment that social homes are to be built to ‘lifetime homes standards’ by 2011, and all new build homes will meet the standard by 2013. The standards are a set of design features that ensure homes can be easily adapted as its occupants become older and less mobile. House builders had warned that the additional requirements were likely to reduce affordability. However, communities minister Baroness Andrews said she was ‘not persuaded’ that the plans needed to be watered down because of the decline in house building.