A Croydon-based disability campaigner presented her concerns about the availability of accessible homes to the equalities minister earlier this month.

Delores Taylor, a wheelchair user, shared findings of a recent report, launched by accessible home provide Habinteg, which revealed that less than half of local plans in England require a percentage of new homes to be made accessible to older and disabled people.

The mother of two described the difficulties she encountered finding a three bedroom house for her family before settling in a Habinteg development, urging Ms Mordaunt to encourage planning authorities increase the availability of accessible homes.

Ms Taylor said: “My disability came later on in my life. It arrived simultaneously with motherhood.

"I had to adapt myself to living in a way I wasn’t previously used to whilst still trying to raise two daughters.

"It seemed as though planning authorities didn’t consider disabled people with families as most of the properties I was offered before moving to Habinteg did not suit me.

"In my previous property, being able to access the garden was almost impossible due to stairs.

"I realised that having a garden was a priority for me because I wanted to take my children outside without constantly having to leave the house."

Croydon’s planning policy is in line with that of the Greater London Authority, requiring 90% of all new homes to be built to accessible, adaptable standards with 10% intended to be designed to meet the needs of wheelchair users.

This puts the borough among the most demanding in the country and Ms Taylor, herself a wheelchair user, wants to see councils all over England follow suit.

Habinteg’s Insight report warned that England is facing an accessible homes crisis.

It’s nationwide analysis of 322 local planning policies reveals that less than a quarter of homes built outside London by 2030 will be suitable for older and disabled people.

It also found that only 1% outside London are set to be suitable for wheelchair users despite 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK and a rapidly ageing population.

Currently, less than one fifth of local plans include a requirement for any wheelchair user dwellings.

The meeting was also attended by fellow campaigner Sam Renke, North Tyneside MP Mary Glindon and Habinteg’s Director of Strategy and External Affairs Nicholas Bungay.