An eight-week consultation on accessible housing for the elderly and disabled is underway in Moray.

The document on revised guidance to private developers will form part of the current Moray Local Development Plan (LDP).

Currently, there is a shortage of accessible housing in the region due to demographic change and the increasing number of people requiring suitably designed housing.

The draft guidance requires private sector developers to deliver more accessible housing for sale and increase tenure choice for people requiring this type of accommodation.

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A report to the planning and regulatory services committee states: "Surveys suggest that over 60% of older people would prefer to move into a bungalow in later life.

"However, there is a growing under-supply and addressing this mismatch is a challenge for those planning, designing and developing housing for an ageing population.

"The amendments proposed in the revised guidance would provide a mix of house types which more accurately reflects need and demand. It is proposed that 50% of private sector accessible housing units are delivered in single storey form – namely, a bungalow.

"In practice this would mean that the requirement from a development of 100 units would be eight accessible private sector units for sale on the open market – four of which must be bungalows."

The consultation will run until 01 July.

(LM/JP)