SFHA announces partnership with Construction Scotland Innovation Centre

Innovation is taking two things that already exist and putting them together in a new way.

SFHA is delighted to have entered into a partnership with Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) to provide additional benefits and support to our members. 

The partnership aims to create a strategic relationship between the two organisations and a supporting programme of activities which will ultimately lead to an increase in the affordability, sustainability, quality and supply of housing association homes in Scotland through innovation.

Housing associations are the main providers of new build social and affordable housing in Scotland and have the most energy efficient housing in the country.

SFHA members face a number of challenges, however, and these include:

• Increasing the supply of new build affordable housing when there is a shortage of skilled construction workers;
• Investing in existing homes to reduce fuel poverty and meet new fire safety standards; and
• Providing housing suitable for an ageing population.

SFHA therefore looks forward to working with CSIC to deliver tangible benefits for members.

Commenting on the partnership, SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said:

“SFHA members - housing associations and co-operatives - have an enviable track record of innovation, but there has never been a more important time to articulate and demonstrate the benefits of innovation in social housing in areas such as cost, quality, safety and energy efficiency.

“A key element of the partnership is ‘Home of the Future’ Innovation and Future Thinking programme, which is bringing the housing and construction sectors, and others, together to create a vision of future living. A series of collaborative innovation projects began in September 2018 to develop and test new ideas, approaches and models for the Home of the Future.

“With the changes and challenges ahead for our members come opportunities which SFHA’s partnership with CSIC can help the sector to grasp.”

Rohan Bush, Head of Public Partnerships & Future Workforce at CSIC, commented:

“Imagine a world where new build social housing is even more energy efficient and high quality. Imagine an industry where waste is segregated using smart sensor technology and materials are delivered at the right time to avoid damages and defects. A world where fuel bills are low due to the quality and affordability of low carbon and sustainable building methods.

“Dream big – imagine as many daring innovations as you can to improve the built environment and the way housing associations procure, build and maintain housing.

"How about a forward-thinking world where the people who are responsible for the future vision of housing and the people who build the houses collaborate and innovate together?

“The launch of the strategic partnership between the SFHA and CSIC aims to make this vision of collaboration and innovation a reality.”

SFHA and CSIC believe that the strategic partnership will enable housing associations to learn from CSIC’s successful innovation track record while also ensuring that the work of CSIC responds to the needs and ambitions of housing associations.  

If you would like to get involved or know more about the partnership, please contact either SFHA Policy Lead David Stewart at dstewart@sfha.co.uk, or Rohan Bush at rbush@cs-ic.org.