Future-Proofing Homes: How Scotland Is Using Technology to Transform Housing
As Scotland faces growing challenges in housing, health, and social care, the integration of technology into the housing sector is proving to be not just innovative, but essential. From serious games that unpack systemic barriers to strategic partnerships that blend expertise across sectors, a new wave of initiatives is reshaping how we think about homes, communities, and the systems that support them.
Good Practice in Action: Scottish Case Studies
1. Loreburn Housing Association – Smart Housing for Independent Living
Based in Dumfries and Galloway, Loreburn Housing Association has embraced smart technology to support older adults and people with disabilities. Their “Smart Homes” pilot scheme includes voice-activated assistants, temperature and lighting controls, and wearable health monitors. Not only do these technologies improve quality of life, but they also reduce the burden on social care providers—showcasing the potential for technology-enabled care in mainstream housing.
Loreburn Housing Association
https://loreburn.org.uk/Dumfries & Galloway Homes by Loreburn
https://www.loreburn.org.uk/dumfries-galloway-homes-/Loreburn Adopts Pioneering New Technology to Help Prevent Falls in Older Residents
https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/loreburn-housing-association-adopts-pioneering-new-technology-to-help-prevent-falls-in-older-residentsDiscover Loreburn Housing Association's Preventative Tech
https://www.techousing.co.uk/preventativetechloreburn
2. The Wheatley Group – Data-Driven Housing Services
As one of Scotland’s largest housing and care providers, The Wheatley Group is pioneering predictive analytics to maintain properties more efficiently. By analysing data from sensors and maintenance reports, Wheatley can address problems like dampness and heating failures before they impact tenants. Their digital transformation strategy has also included the rollout of a tenant-facing app, improving communication and service delivery across thousands of homes.
The Wheatley Group – Data-Driven Housing Services
Wheatley Group
https://www.wheatley-group.com/Wheatley Group Innovation in Housing – Edinburgh Research Explorer
https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/wheatley-group-innovation-in-housingMaster Data Management for Wheatley with VisionWare
https://www.housing-technology.com/master-data-management-wheatley-visionware/
3. Edinburgh’s Castle Rock Edinvar – Digital Inclusion for Tenants
Technology can only drive change if people can use it. That’s why Castle Rock Edinvar (part of Places for People) focuses on digital inclusion initiatives. They’ve run workshops, provided internet-ready devices to tenants, and partnered with local organisations to deliver digital skills training—ensuring no one is left behind in the shift toward smarter housing.
Castle Rock Edinvar – Digital Inclusion for Tenants
Places for People Scotland (Castle Rock Edinvar)
https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-companies/places-for-people-scotland/Digital Inclusion Briefing – SCVO
https://scvo.scot/p/27369/2018/10/29/digital-inclusion-briefing
Cross-Sector Collaboration: The Engine Behind Progress
What unites these examples is a collaborative ethos—housing associations working with local authorities, health boards, universities, tech companies, and communities. This kind of partnership is central to Tech 2025’s vision, where stakeholders don't just react to crises but co-create resilient systems that anticipate future needs.
Stephanie Elliot, Tech Lead at Tech 2025, explains:
“The future of housing lies not just in technology, but in how we design and implement it together. It’s not enough to innovate—we must integrate.”