Housing design for better sight: solutions for living with sight loss

There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to providing suitable accommodation for people with sight loss, but planning at the design stage could eradicate many of the basic problems of living with visual impairment, while well‐considered adaptations to existing housing can also improve the quality of many people's lives. Research funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, a leading sight loss charity and housing provider, found that much existing housing falls far short of the needs of people with sight loss, but that basic design choices offer major improvements. This article shows how good design can help people lead independent, active lives. It questions the lack of planning for sensory disability in Lifetime Homes and takes lighting as an example of how existing homes can be improved for those living with sight loss.