SME housebuilder, City Sanctuary, has become the first UK developer to receive the official Residential WELL Seal on a retrofit project from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
The recognition applies to its Albion Court conversion in Whitechapel, a repurposing of a historic Baroque-style brewery dating back to 1903.
With NHS England spending £1.4billion annually on health issues linked to poor housing, City Sanctuary says its approach demonstrates how property development could become preventative healthcare.
Alex Uregian, managing director of City Sanctuary, said: “This is more than just certification. We have shown that you can deliver homes designed to actively improve health and well-being, even in the most complex retrofit projects, and without a premium-finish budget.”
To achieve WELL certification, the scheme secured 62 points, surpassing the required 40 points, across categories like air quality, light, water filtration and mental well-being, reviewed by an independent panel. City Sanctuary’s work was supported by Owl Interior Designers, well-being consultant, Ekkist, and IWBI’s residential taskforce of more than 100 global experts.
Kai Milligan, City Sanctuary tenant, said: “The light shifts through the day, brighter and more energising in the morning, warmer and calmer in the evening, thanks to the programmable light settings. It helps my mind wake up and relax more comfortably. The low-level night lighting lets me move around without waking myself up whilst the automated blackout blinds help me finally sleep through the night for the first time in years. Equally, when it comes to air, I know that the purifiers and dehumidifiers ensure nothing is harmful. Living in a large bustling city like London means it’s even more important to come home to a calm environment, tailored to supporting my health and that’s exactly what City Sanctuary does.”
Alex Uregian continued: “Too often we focus on narrow tick-box metrics like EPCs instead of what resonates with residents. We’ve proven healthy homes don’t require luxury budgets, just a north star: people. If we get the health side right, sustainability is more likely to follow.”
City Sanctuary believes this approach is scalable across all tenures, and says it is already speaking with SME collaborators and social landlords interested in adapting the blueprint.
Ann Marie Aguilar, IWBI’s VP and head of EMEA, added: “IWBI applauds City Sanctuary for achieving the Residential WELL Seal and for being the first residential conversion in the UK to do so. City Sanctuary exemplifies health-focused leadership in the residential sector – all the more remarkable given it is an SME housebuilder. We are excited to see how others follow this lead.”
City Sanctuary is now exploring long-term partnerships to scale this blueprint, from social landlords to SME collaborators ready to apply the approach.