Smart Homes, Safer Lives: How Bield’s Digital Housing Project is Revolutionising Retirement Living
Imagine a retirement housing community that quietly uses cutting-edge tech to keep residents safer, reduce costs, and improve wellbeing—all without disrupting daily life. Guided by Bield in partnership with Archangel and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), that imagination just became reality.
A Quiet Revolution in South Lanarkshire
Between late 2024 and early 2025, Bield embarked on a six‑month pilot titled Evaluating care delivery in rural settings, at Langvout Court, a sheltered housing development in Biggar. Tenants experienced a smart living upgrade—unobtrusive sensors were installed across communal areas and individual flats to continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and movement. The smart system, known as Archangel’s Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) platform, uses Angelnet connectivity for 24/7, real-time monitoring.
From Data to Decisions: The FarrPoint Assessment
Independent evaluation by Edinburgh‑based FarrPoint revealed meaningful wins across the system:
Lower utility costs: Heating savings of £7,670 annually.
Lower maintenance costs: Repairs savings of **£2,825 annually.
Reduced manual checks, heightened tenant safety, and **better regulatory compliance**.
Plus, the technology can monitor for environmental hazards like legionella.
When scaled across all of Scotland’s sheltered housing, these savings could amount to an estimated £18.5 million per year**.
Voices from the Project
Gavin Wright (Bield Head of Property Management) emphasised the project's role in promoting dignity, independence, and operational efficiency—calling it a shining example of thoughtful innovation.
Janette Hughes (DHI) framed the tech as a means to promote happier, safer lives by better connecting housing and community.
Kate Milne (FarrPoint economist) highlighted how it improved tenants’ wellbeing while empowering Bield staff to respond more swiftly and effectively.
Tom Morton (Archangel CEO) underlined how the project achieved real ROI within the first year and delivered scalable, invisible insights to support safer, smarter homes. ([bield.co.uk][1])
Funded by Innovation
This initiative was part of the **Glasgow City Region 5G Smart and Connected Places Programme**, backed by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It stands at the intersection of housing, digital innovation, and responsive care. ([bield.co.uk][1])
Why This Matters
1. Scalability with Impact
Projected savings of £18.5M per year show that innovation can be both compassionate and cost-efficient.
2. Proactive Welfare
Sensors offer real-time visibility, enabling early intervention—reducing risk without intruding on privacy.
3. Integrated Care Landscape
The partnership model—Bield, Archangel, DHI, FarrPoint—demonstrates how housing, tech, and healthcare can co-evolve.
4. A Blueprint for Future Living
With tech now proven, Bield is exploring broader roll-out across its wider estate—a move toward smarter, safer sheltered housing in every corner of Scotland.
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Final Thoughts
Smart sensors might not seem headline-grabbing, but the ripples they create are profound: safer environments, empowered residents, and transformed care delivery. Bield’s digital housing pilot doesn’t just represent a tech upgrade—it marks a leap toward a future where ageing is met with innovation, dignity, and community.