Engaging people in retrofit, Getting started in retrofit, Resident engagement, Support for Warm Homes grant recipients

The Importance of Communication

Introduction

Communication has not historically received the same level of attention as technical standards, funding or program management. Yet many committees reviewing previous schemes have found that poor communication has been a recurring cause of resident dissatisfaction, delays and misunderstanding.

Published: 12 March 2026

Claire Brown of RISE recently spoke with Polly Buckland, a Communications Consultant specialising in accessible engagement, and Andy Piper, Head of Sustainability at VIVID, to explore why communication sits at the heart of successful retrofit delivery. Both experts emphasised that while technical design and installation are central to retrofit, the quality, clarity and consistency of resident communication ultimately determines whether projects build trust, reduce disruption, and deliver positive outcomes.

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Readers that would like this document in a more accessible format should contact rise@turntown.co.uk.