Figures reveal that more than 40,000 disabled people are currently on social housing waiting lists, while a further 80,000 households require essential adaptations to live safely at home.

Despite this demand, only 0.7% of local authority housing in Scotland meets wheelchair accessibility standards. That figure rises to just 1.5% across housing associations.

In response, Blackwood Homes and Care is calling on the Scottish Government and all political parties preparing for the next Scottish Parliament elections to prioritise investment and reform in housing, care and support.

The call accompanies the launch of the Independent Living Blueprint, a comprehensive paper drawing on lived experience and decades of innovation by the award-winning housing and care provider.

The blueprint sets out a roadmap to scale proven approaches to independent living, with ten bold recommendations structured around five key priorities: national standards, investment, technology, workforce and evidence.

Stephanie Sutherland, head of business development at Blackwood, said: “Over fifty years, we’ve learned that co-designing homes with residents, using technology that empowers people, and building communities around inclusion all work. We’ve seen the evidence of what’s possible.

“This blueprint celebrates those successes and shows how Scotland can scale them up. Independent living is not a luxury, it is a right and we now have both the knowledge and the tools to make it happen nationwide.”

Recommendations include simplifying adaptation systems, embedding digital innovation in care, and raising the baseline for accessible home design through national standards.

The paper is informed by successful real-world models, including Blackwood’s 66-home Charleston development in Dundee, where all residents reported improved independence compared to previous homes.

Stephanie added: “Independent living is a fundamental right. Scotland has shown real leadership in this space, but the next step is to scale success nationally. That means moving beyond pilots and embedding inclusive design into mainstream policy.”

The blueprint has been welcomed by Professor Vikki McCall of the University of Stirling, a leading academic in housing and social policy.

Vikki said: “Independent living is about having real choice and control. That only happens when systems, spaces and services are designed with people, not just for them.

“This blueprint gets that balance right, grounding recommendations in lived experience and evidence rather than theoretical policy development. The time to act is now.”

With Scotland’s population ageing rapidly and demand for care growing exponentially, the blueprint argues that scaling up proven innovations now will reduce costs and inequalities while ensuring every Scot can maintain independence and dignity.