Elderly people who do not downsize are blocking a vital supply of family sized homes for families, according to a new report. Planning for Smaller Households, jointly published by the population and housing research group at Anglia Ruskin University and the retirement housing group of the Home Builders Federation, is calling for a boost in retirement homes supply. The report bases its recommendations on 2001 census data, which shows that the number of one person households has risen to over 30%. But while the government has concluded that the key priority is to build starter homes for first time buyers, “last time buyers” in fact make up half of all one person households (3.1 million). As a result, too many small homes, aimed at young singles have been built and not enough for older singles. The report recommends boosting the supply of retirement housing in urban areas, close to amenities such as shops and doctors surgeries, which would meet the needs of older occupiers, whose existing homes could be released to families.