Large-scale changes in population are likely to have social, cultural, economic and political implications, and the challenges raised by a growing population are very different to those faced by a shrinking one.
Similarly, a country or region with an old or ageing population will have different needs to one which is predominantly young.
The BSRIA white paper explores some of these key trends in specific relation to the building services sector.
The most obvious direct impact of population growth or decline will be in the demand for buildings which directly serve the needs of that population. As well as housing, this includes health and education amenities and transport and utility infrastructure.
Meanwhile, an ageing population will impact the supply side of building services by affecting the types of people who are available to work in the industry and the type of work they can do. It will also affect demand for different types of buildings and building services.
According to the report, smart building technology has a key role to play in addressing both of these factors.
Henry Lawson, senior market research consultant at BSRIA’s World Market Intelligence division, said: “The proportion of the UK’s population aged 65 and above has roughly doubled over the past 80 years and the share of people aged over 85 has risen even faster.
“We should expect an increase in buildings that cater for an older population, including retirement homes, sheltered accommodation, communal establishments and nursing homes.
“BSRIA has been researching smart home solutions since 2010. We are finding an increasing focus on solutions to help those who are elderly, in poor health or disabled to remain in their own home for longer. This can be anything from monitors and alarms to ‘companion’ robots.
“To create a future that works, our buildings and the way they are designed, built and operated are going to need to change at least as much as the people who will be inside them.”
The Megatrends: Demographics white paper is available as a free copy in combination with the purchase of additional BSRIA studies.