When housing providers retrofit homes, they’re not just improving EPC ratings – they’re improving how homes perform for the people living in them, triggering a cascade of health benefits that ripple through families, schools, workplaces, and the NHS.

As the Warm Homes Plan, MEES requirements, and EPC recalibration converge, the strategic value of retrofit should be understood not only in terms of carbon compliance, but in its measurable impact on health outcomes that transform lives.

Children: The First Beneficiaries

The evidence is quite overwhelming. Research shows that 39% of households with dependent children report damp and mould, rising to 48% for lone parent households. Children living in cold, damp homes experience significantly higher rates of respiratory illness, particularly asthma. Following retrofit interventions that address heat loss and moisture at source, the health improvements are immediate and documented: asthma symptoms ease, wheezing episodes reduce, and severe allergic reactions requiring steroid treatment decline.

But the ripple extends beyond respiratory health. Children in warm, dry bedrooms sleep better, resulting in improved concentration, behaviour, and educational attainment. Teachers report noticeable changes in children’s engagement and performance when housing conditions improve.

Parents: From Crisis Management to Economic Participation

When children are healthier, parents can work. They’re not taking time off for medical appointments, managing chronic illness, or staying home with children too unwell for school. This shift from crisis management to economic participation can be significant. Families with reduced energy bills have more disposable income, reducing financial stress and rent arrears.

The mental health benefits are equally significant. Living in damp, mouldy conditions increases the likelihood of depression by 44%. Removing that environmental stressor through targeted improvements to the building envelope improves wellbeing across the household. Families start inviting friends round again – a simple indicator of dignity restored and social isolation reduced.

The NHS: Preventable Demand Avoided

For the health service, the case is compelling. Analysis suggests that eliminating damp and mould across UK housing could save the NHS £9.7 billion annually, with a payback period of under two years. Every child not requiring emergency asthma treatment, every older resident maintaining safe indoor temperatures through winter, every family not experiencing stress-related mental health crises represents preventable demand on an overstretched system.

The Strategic Opportunity

This is why retrofit must be positioned not only as an energy efficiency programme, but as a health intervention that transforms lives. The human outcomes – easing asthma, reducing parental stress, enabling employment, improving educational attainment – are powerful arguments for investment. They unlock cross-sector partnerships with NHS, public health teams, and social care. They build public support and political resilience across electoral cycles.

As regulatory changes accelerate through 2026 and 2027, housing providers that collect and publicise health outcome data, frame retrofit as community health investment, and build partnerships around these outcomes will lead the sector. The ripple effect starts with a warm, dry home, but it transforms entire communities.

As Founder and CEO of Healthy Homes Hub, Jenny Danson works at the intersection of healthy homes and social housing, helping housing providers turn investment decisions into better health outcomes for residents.

Her work focuses on damp and mould, building performance, retrofit impacts and the long-term value of healthier homes. Jenny is known for translating complex housing and health challenges into practical, strategic conversations that support better decisions and better outcomes.

The post Industry Spotlight | The Health Ripple Effect: Why Warm Homes Transform Communities appeared first on Guildmore.

Ben brings over 15 years of experience in the construction and social housing sector and will lead the continued growth of Guildmore’s retrofit service. His role will focus on delivering a customer-focused and end-to-end retrofit service strategy, recognising the shifting landscape of standards, funding mechanisms and markets in which retrofit services can be offered, whilst maintaining high-quality delivery.

With extensive experience across large-scale retrofit and decarbonisation programmes, Ben has operated at a national level, overseeing projects from funding strategy and bid development through to delivery and completion. His background spans a wide range of schemes, including social housing decarbonisation programmes, planned investment works, and complex multi-site retrofit delivery across the UK.

Ben Whiterod, Head of Retrofit, said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Guildmore at such an exciting time for both the business and the retrofit sector. Guildmore has built a strong reputation in this space, and I’m looking forward to building on that momentum and supporting its continued growth.”

Planned Works Business Unit Director Dan Williamson added:

“We are very pleased to welcome Ben to the team. He brings a wealth of technical knowledge and leadership experience to the business, and we’re confident he will play a key role in growing and strengthening our retrofit offer going forward.

“Ben has a deep understanding of the evolving landscape and shifting funding mechanisms within the sector, and is well placed to support our clients in navigating these requirements, ensuring we continue to deliver compliant, high-quality retrofit solutions at scale.”

This apointment is part of Guildmore’s ongoing commitment to serving communities across the UK and delivering high-quality, sustainable projects.

Get in Touch

Have a cladding remediation, decarbonisation or planned works project you’d like to discuss? Contact us here.

The post Guildmore Appoints Ben Whiterod as Head of Retrofit appeared first on Guildmore.

As the sector transitions from separate funding mechanisms such as ECO4 and GBIS to the Warm Homes Plan, the focus seems to have shifted away from fabric-first retrofit in place of whole-home improvement strategies that improve EPC performance and unlock long-term funding. The role of reducing energy demand through fabric measures as part of this strategy should not be underestimated, however.

In this month’s Industry Spotlight, we highlight Soltherm as a key supply-chain partner supporting the delivery of External Wall Insulation (EWI) and thermal insulation systems. As a main contractor working with Housing Associations and Local Authorities, we recognise the importance of technically robust façade solutions that reduce heat loss, improve EPC performance, and create a strong foundation for wider decarbonisation programmes.

External Wall Insulation remains a critical measure in unlocking funding opportunities by addressing building fabric first, enabling schemes to align with evolving Warm Homes Plan objectives and deliver measurable, scalable outcomes. Through early-stage collaboration between client, main contractor and manufacturer, projects can be designed to maximise funding eligibility while ensuring long-term performance and compliance.

Alongside technical delivery, it’s equally important to recognise the wider social value our industry can create. Soltherm’s partnership with the ‘Building Heroes’ initiative supports veterans transitioning into civilian careers by providing specialist training and pathways into green construction roles. We are proud to announce that we will be supporting this initiative, helping to develop the skilled workforce required to deliver retrofit at scale.

The bigger picture is clear, successful retrofit programmes bring together funding, technical expertise and social value, ensuring warmer homes, stronger communities, and sustainable outcomes for the long term.

The post Industry Spotlight | Fabric-First Retrofit & the Transition to the Warm Homes Plan  appeared first on Guildmore.

The Carlton & Granville redevelopment forms a key part of the wider South Kilburn regeneration programme and will deliver much-needed new homes, community facilities, and public spaces for residents in Brent and the surrounding areas.

The scheme brings together sensitively retrofitted historic buildings alongside new-build construction to create affordable housing, enhanced outdoor areas, an enterprise hub, and education facilities. Architecturally, the development responds carefully to its Victorian surroundings, with brick and metal cladding façades complemented by heritage clay tile detailing.

As part of the project, Guildmore has constructed the Garden Hall, a flexible community asset incorporating a multi-use event space, commercial-grade catering facilities, and a wildlife-friendly rooftop garden. Designed to support a wide range of uses, the space is set to become a focal point for community events, fairs, and local gatherings.

The completion of this phase in the Carlton & Granville regeneration project represents an important milestone in Guildmore’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality regeneration projects that support long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits for local communities.

Gareth Phillips, Construction Business Unit Director at Guildmore said:

“We are proud to confirm that the Garden Hall at our Carlton and Granville project has now completed, delivering another high-quality community hub for the residents of South Kilburn and the wider Brent community.

“I am particularly proud of the social value commitments the project has achieved to date. Through apprenticeships, work placements and targeted employment initiatives, we have employed or trained a substantial number of local residents. The team has also prioritised local spend, ensuring that investment in the project directly supports businesses within the borough.

“This milestone reflects the commitment and collaboration of everyone involved. Thank you to our client Brent and the project team for their dedication in bringing a further phase to completion.

We now look forward to maintaining this momentum as we progress towards completion of the final residential phases now underway.”

The post Guildmore Delivers Community Hall at Carlton & Granville appeared first on Guildmore.

The appointment forms part of the Department for Education’s eight-year framework, which will support up to £15bn of investment through the national School Rebuilding Programme, focused on refurbishing and renewing schools most in need of improvement across England.

As a regional delivery team, Guildmore has secured all tendered places on the Lower Value Band (LVB) lots, covering the following project values and locations:

• Projects valued between £4.4m and £12m in London
• Projects valued between £4.4m and £12m in the South East

In total, 23 contractors have been appointed nationally to the Construction Framework 2025, with seven regional delivery teams selected to deliver projects across the London and South East LVB lots.

The DfE procurement process is scheduled to commence in January 2026 through a combination of direct allocation and mini competition, enabling early engagement, cost certainty and efficient programme development.

Gareth Phillips, Construction Business Unit Director, said:

“We look forward to supporting the Department for Education over the coming years through this framework, which gives us the opportunity to contribute in renewing and driving lasting improvements across school buildings in the London and South East Communities.

“We are fully aligned with the Department’s plans to revitalise and modernise schools in greatest need of investment, ensuring that every student and member of staff benefits from safe, inspiring, and state-of-the-art learning spaces.”

The post Guildmore Appointed to DfE Construction Framework 2025 appeared first on Guildmore.

The INCA Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and innovation across the external wall insulation and cladding sector. This year’s ceremony took place on 6 November at The Queens Hotel in Leeds, recognising the best projects and partnerships in the UK.

Our winning project, Gallions Reach at Royal Albert Wharf in London, was one of the largest cladding remediation projects in the country. Delivered over an 18-month programme, Guildmore completed essential fire safety and compliance works across seven residential blocks, replacing combustible materials and significantly improving the buildings’ thermal performance and aesthetic finish.

Situated directly beneath the flight path of London City Airport, the project required meticulous coordination of scaffold heights and crane operations to comply with strict airspace restrictions. In addition, three of the blocks featured cantilevered sections over the River Thames, so temporary engineered dams were built to safely manage fluctuating tidal levels throughout the works.

Despite these complexities, the project team – working closely with system supplier Soltherm and Employer’s Agent HartDixon – delivered a seamless and resident-focused programme. Our collaborative efforts ensured safety, quality, and communication remained central throughout.

The judges praised Gallions Reach as a “fabulous remediation project – improving design finish, thermal efficiency, fire performance, and kerb appeal. Top class design, highest quality of installation and resident-centric delivery.”

Keith Laing, Guildmore’s Facades & Cladding Business Unit Director said:

“We’re honoured to receive this recognition from INCA. Gallions Reach is a standout project for us – technically challenging, collaborative, and immensely rewarding. We’d like to thank Soltherm and HartDixon for their partnership and shared commitment to quality and safety. This award is much appreciated recognition for the hard work and professionalism of everyone involved.”

The post Guildmore Wins Prestigious INCA Award appeared first on Guildmore.

Hole Farm, a 100-hectare site in South Essex, is currently being transformed into a vibrant community woodland. Funded by National Highways and managed by Forestry England, the site will provide mitigation for the Lower Thames Crossing, a major infrastructure project that will provide a new road connection between Kent and Essex.

Once work at Hole Farm is complete, the site will feature newly planted woodland areas, walking routes, ecological ponds, and community facilities. To date, Forestry England have already planted over 150,000 trees.

Guildmore has been appointed to work in partnership with Balfour Beatty to assist with the transformation of the site. Our in house groundworks and civils teams will be responsible for forming footpaths and ecological ponds, helping to make the natural landscape more accessible for visitors to enjoy. Guildmore will also be constructing a sustainable grab and go café, toilets, car park and EV charging points.

Guildmore’s operations on this project, including the construction of the café, will be entirely fossil fuel free. We plan to achieve this by following an environmentally sensitive design approach and green construction methods, including:  

• Carbon neutral Syntech ASB biofuel used for all vehicles and machinery on site.
• Café to be constructed using a sustainably sourced prefabricated timber frame.
• All hand tools and equipment used on site will be fully electric.

Craig Lauder, Head of Technical at Guildmore said:

“From the outset, we’ve scoped in carbon-free construction methods to minimise the environmental impact of our activities.

“The progress at Hole Farm has already positively transformed the local landscape and surroundings- we want to help protect and enhance this legacy by prioritising sustainability at every stage.”

Gareth Phillips, Construction Business Unit Director at Guildmore said:

“We’re proud to contribute towards the legacy of the Lower Thames Crossing through our work on Hole Farm, which will help visitors make the most of the diverse set of natural landscapes that Forestry England have established.

“In addition to our civils works, we hope that the new café will create a welcoming and sustainable space that enables people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors and better connect with nature.”

The post Guildmore to Deliver Civils Works and Café at Hole Farm appeared first on Guildmore.

Brett, who brings over 30 years of experience in the construction sector, will play a vital role in supporting Guildmore’s growing presence across the country, including major cities such as Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

Brett’s extensive background includes a diverse range of cladding remediation, retrofit at scale decarbonisation, and traditional planned works projects across the Midlands and Northern England, from multiple low rise four-storey blocks in Luton to 15-storey high rise blocks in Nottingham & Manchester. He has accrued more than a decade of senior management experience, making him well equipped to drive the business’ growth in these regions.

Brett Bussey, Midlands & North Director said:

“I am thrilled to join Guildmore and be part of this exciting growth phase. Guildmore’s expertise in creating safer, sustainable buildings is something I’m eager to bring to new parts of the country. Although I’m starting this role with a dedicated focus on laying the groundwork in these regions, my aim is to draw on my experience in the cladding and decarbonisation sectors to deliver lasting, positive changes for local communities.”

John Walsh, Executive Operations Officer said:

“Brett arrives with a wealth of expertise and a proven track record in the sector. While we already have a national presence with successful projects spanning from Leeds to Southampton, Brett’s dedicated role will be instrumental in growing our national presence substantially.”

This expansion is part of Guildmore’s ongoing commitment to serving communities across the UK and delivering high-quality, sustainable projects.

Get in Touch

Have a cladding remediation, decarbonisation or planned works project you’d like to discuss? Contact us here.

The post Guildmore Appoints Brett Bussey as Midlands & North Director appeared first on Guildmore.

Established in 1998, Guildmore have grown into a leading provider of high-quality property services, delivering ambitious cladding remediation, decarbonisation and planned works projects across the country.

Building on from successful projects in Liverpool and the East of England, this latest expansion reflects Guildmore’s unwavering commitment to creating safer, more sustainable buildings across England, while maintaining the highest standards in safety, compliance, and innovation.

What We Bring to the Midlands and the North

Our team of experienced professionals is ready to tackle the unique challenges facing communities in these regions. Whether it’s restoring facades to meet fire safety standards, upgrading buildings for energy efficiency and decarbonisation, or executing planned works to maintain and enhance property value, Guildmore brings trusted expertise to every project.

Why Choose Guildmore?

• Proven Track Record: With over two decades of industry experience, Guildmore has become a trusted name in the field of cladding remediation and property services.
• Tailored Solutions: We understand that every building has unique needs, and we deliver solutions designed specifically for your project.
• Commitment to Sustainability: Our decarbonisation programmes ensure that buildings are not just safe but also environmentally efficient for the future.
• Focus on Compliance: We prioritise adherence to the latest safety regulations, giving property owners and residents peace of mind.

Let’s Build Safer, Greener Communities Together

As we grow, our mission remains the same: to provide exceptional service that delivers value to our clients while improving the quality and safety of buildings for residents and communities.

If you have a project in Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, or anywhere in between, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Let’s discuss how Guildmore can help with your next project: Contact us today.

The post Guildmore Expands into the Midlands and the North appeared first on Guildmore.

By attending Dementia Friends information sessions, Guildmore’s project delivery teams, including resident liaison officers, are now better equipped to understand and support those living with dementia.

Dementia Friends is an initiative led by Alzheimer’s Society that informs people about the realities of living with dementia through both face-to-face and online sessions. By becoming ‘Dementia Friends’, our staff have learnt how to spot the signs that someone may have dementia, as well as practical ways to foster a more inclusive and positive customer experience when undertaking work in people’s homes and communities. 

For new team members, these information sessions form a key component of their induction process, underscoring our commitment to improving awareness and understanding of dementia in our team from the outset.

This initiative is not only a step forward in enhancing the quality of our customer care but also aligns with the wider standards set by the Social Housing Regulator. By integrating the sessions into our operations, we are ensuring that our practices meet the needs of the people and communities we serve.

Lorraine Hall, Resident Liaison Officer, said:

“Dementia Friends has made me more confident in supporting residents with dementia and their families. It’s helped me better understand what they might be going through and how small changes in how we communicate can make a big difference. It’s not just about understanding dementia—it’s about connecting with people and ensuring they feel valued and supported.”

Guildmore are proud to champion this initiative and to play our part in creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for those affected by dementia.

The post Guildmore’s Planned Works Staff Become ‘Dementia Friends’ appeared first on Guildmore.