Seniors downsizing on their own terms: Overcoming planning, legal and policy impediments to the creation of alternative retirement communities

This research aims to determine whether more seniors would choose to downsize if there was a greater variety of housing options available, particularly within existing communities.The research seeks to determine ‘what seniors want’ and assess new housing concepts, for example pocket communities, that are starting to emerge. The project then considers legal,planning and policy hurdles to realising these aspirations.The research identifies several housing models available both nationally and internationally to either provide downsized accommodation options and/or support ageing seniors in some form of sheltered/supportive accommodation.The project will improve knowledge and understanding of productive ageing through engaging seniors’ views of their ‘ideal’ retirement environment and their attitudes to existing and potential options for downsizing. It will also canvass the reasons why, at present, such housing may not be available and identify the impediments preventing the creation of age-friendly, integrated communities.The research is relevant to recent discussions in Australia and abroad about impediments to downsizing and impact on housing availability for other generations and on the overall property market