ESG in care home development

The UK care home sector faces a significant supply challenge.

Our recent research reveals a requirement for around 139,000 additional care home beds over the next decade, equivalent to approximately 30% of existing supply. Meeting this need will require development rates to increase substantially, placing greater focus on how new care homes are designed, built and operated.

Asset resilience

As ESG continues to evolve, the conversation has become less about sustainability as a standalone investment narrative and more about using sustainable choices to deliver practical, long term value.

In care homes, buildings operate around the clock and operating costs have a direct impact on performance, so long-term financial and operational resilience is a fundamental consideration. Energy resilience, through fully electric systems, solar generation and heat pump technology, can help reduce long-term exposure to volatile utility costs and reliance on fossil fuels. These measures are not simply environmental choices; they are increasingly viewed as a way to future-proof assets against changing regulations, market expectations and operational pressures. However, true resilience extends beyond the energy systems alone.

Designing for a changing climate

Environmental design principles have a direct bearing on the health, wellbeing and comfort of residents. As the UK experiences more frequent and intense heatwaves, storms and flooding events, a trend expected to continue, the buildings we design today must be capable of performing in the climate conditions of 2050 and beyond.

This requires treating thermal comfort as a baseline design requirement. Optimised building and window design and orientation, shading strategies and high-performance insulation helps create environments that remain comfortable throughout the year, critically important for vulnerable residents of care homes, while reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems.

Equally important is the provision of adequate natural ventilation and high indoor air quality. These factors are critical, yet often overlooked, determinants of resident health and wellbeing. Better ventilation can help reduce the spread of airborne infection, decrease the risk of overheating and improve indoor conditions for residents with respiratory conditions or reduced immunity characteristics.

Today’s decisions determine tomorrow’s viability

The primary role of a care home is to provide a safe and supportive environment for residents, and the need for new care homes has never been greater. As the sector hurries to address the substantial shortfall in care home provision, all decisions, including those related to sustainability, are increasingly being viewed through a practical lens. But to ensure this demand is met for the long term, design decisions must go beyond immediate operational requirements and deliver lasting value that meets the requirements of their occupants.

The most effective sustainable measures are essential investments to achieve that, improving operational performance, providing healthy indoor environments that support resident wellbeing and strengthening resilience to extreme weather over the long term. Ultimately, the design choices made in care homes today will determine whether they remain safe, comfortable, operationally effective and financially viable for decades to come.