Former Homes England chief investment officer Harry Swales has called for more focus on “retrofit-to-rent” to anchor regeneration projects in the UK.
“As well as thinking about build-to-rent, the industry needs to think about retrofit-to-rent,” Swales told delegates at the UK Apartment Association’s annual BTR conference in London.
Swales, who joined Dorrington as director and head of residential six weeks ago, said: “It’s important that we think about the long-term future of our existing buildings.
“There’s a big opportunity and responsibility for landlords to make sure that our buildings are responding to important sustainability priorities for the future.”
At Dorrington, Swales will undertake the company’s retrofitting ambitions for its older residential assets.
He said the business is “keeping placemaking at the heart” of its reinvestment into existing buildings.
Related Argent’s King’s Cross redevelopment was highlighted as an exemplar for retrofitting heritage buildings, while keeping placemaking in mind.
“There are some good examples across the UK of where [the industry has] been able to bring new homes and newly-created retrofit homes in heritage buildings to a new and exciting future,” said Swales.
“There is a housing sector beyond BTR where older and more aging stock needs to be invested in for the future.
“It needs to deliver decent homes and it needs to deliver long-term, sustainable homes. That is a complex challenge, but I think everybody has a role to play.”
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