Balancing budget and impact: Smart office refurbishments for the housing industry

Office refurbishment projects for the housing industry

Those working for housing associations need office environments that support staff wellbeing, garner collaboration, and adapt to change. We’ve partnered with several forward-thinking housing clients to deliver exactly that for a variety of budgets, and varying specifications.

Maximising value within tight budgets

We understand that office refurbishment costs can feel daunting, especially in the not-for-profit world of housing. That’s why we can work closely with you to help value-engineer your project; maximising impact without going over budget. An example of where we’ve delivered this exact approach is our project with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group. We transformed small pockets of space across their estate within their available budget, creating impactful change to key areas that required attention, their social and kitchen spaces, customer meeting rooms, and using furniture solutions to improve their working environment.

Similarly, our refurbishment for ForHousing was value engineered at the point of design. Utilising existing partitions to create meeting rooms, and using furniture rather than building walls, we were able to create a space that improved the working environment for their people.

Space optimisation

Just as housing developments maximise every square foot, we apply the same principle to office space planning. Whether it’s repurposing underused areas or designing multi-functional zones, our smart layouts ensure your people get more from less.

Our project with Places for People in Preston did just that. When consolidating their Group Support Centre office into their South Rings office, it was important to consult all colleagues through workplace consultancy, in order to ensure that the space would be optimised to accommodate the increased number of colleagues using one space. Through this close working relationship, we’ve been able to design a destination office for Places for People, ensuring that all workstyles are catered for, with diversity and inclusion at the forefront to attract and retain talented colleagues.

Sustainable design: Good for the planet – and your budget

Sustainability is no longer optional. We’re proud to prioritise eco-friendly solutions in all of our projects. Our refurbishment of Weaver Vale Housing Trust is a perfect example, 50% of their existing furniture was reused, not only minimising the environmental impact of the refurbishment, whilst also maximising on their budget by reducing the need to purchase new furniture.  Similar to our project with ForHousing, at Weaver Vale, we utilised existing partitioning to transform private offices into meeting rooms, which also reduced material waste from knocking down walls, going to landfill.

How office design can solve housing sector challenges

Ultimately, good design underpins everything. With decades of experience and a strong understanding of sector-specific challenges, our team ensures that your refurbishment not only looks the part, whilst also supporting the people who work within it.

The housing sector is experiencing many pressures in today’s climate, here’s a few simple ways that well-considered office upgrade could help alleviate them:

• Funding constraints: With limited budgets, it’s essential to maximise every pound. We help clients invest wisely, ensuring long-term value and impact.
• Attraction and retention: Recruitment remains a major challenge, especially in frontline roles. Research by Mobysoft in 2023 found that “more than three quarters (of social housing c-suite executives) (77%) said that recruiting is currently a challenge for their organisation”, A welcoming, flexible workplace with wellness rooms and social spaces shows employees they’re truly valued.
• Burnout and wellbeing: In a high-pressure environment, thoughtful design becomes a vital support tool. Features like hybrid hubs, quiet zones, and inclusive elements (e.g. prayer or wellbeing rooms) help teams recharge and thrive.
• Government uncertainty: In uncertain political times, investing in your workspace signals confidence and stability, both to your teams and the wider sector.
• Mergers and acquisitions: As organisations combine, optimising office space is crucial. Whether consolidating locations or expanding existing sites, we help you create environments that work for everyone.

Come and find us at Housing 2025 

We’re proud to have helped many of the UK’s most prominent housing associations and we’re not done yet! We’ll be attending Housing 2025 in Manchester this June. Find us at Stand C51 to discuss how our smart, sustainable design can transform your office, in turn helping you better serve your communities.

Can’t make it? Check out all our work and thinking across the housing sector here!