Residents’ values: Co-designing social housing retrofit

Abstract

Residents’ values in social housing retrofit extend beyond energy efficiency targets to encompass complex social and physical considerations, shaping their acceptance and experience of interventions. These values appear to influence retrofit success yet are often overlooked in policy and practice that prioritise technical performance. This paper investigates what residents value in social housing retrofit through a focus group method with the Sutton Estate in London, combining institutional stakeholder (housing association and architect) and resident perspectives. Content analysis of focus group questionnaires, discussions, and consensus-building activities revealed four key resident values: (1) good stakeholder relationships, emphasising trust-building through personal connections; (2) access to information, requiring clear, continuous communication through multiple channels; (3) comfort, health, and safety, integrating physical and mental wellbeing; and (4) building and community longevity, focusing on preserving building character and social sustainability. The findings suggest that social housing retrofit may benefit from a holistic approach integrating residents’ values throughout the project lifecycle, addressing the social, physical, and long-term sustainability of homes and communities. The findings highlight the importance for housing associations, architects, and policymakers to consider residents’ values when developing retrofit strategies, balancing technical requirements with residents’ needs and priorities.