The golden thread: What housing providers need to know

The golden thread has emerged as a transformative force within UK housing - particularly as providers accelerate their digital transformation and acclimatise to an environment of increased professionalisation. 

But what exactly is it?

The golden thread is a continuous flow of information that accompanies a building throughout its lifecycle – from the construction stage through to operation. The approach has the potential to revolutionise the way buildings are managed, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, safety, and transparency. 

With the growing scrutiny that the sector has experienced in recent years - particularly since Grenfell - the golden thread can provide immense value to those involved in the delivery and management of resident buildings.

Golden opportunities

The golden thread aims to facilitate a seamless flow of information that spans the entire lifecycle of a building. It does this by encompassing various elements, including architectural plans, engineering specifications, digital models, regulatory documentation, and maintenance records. 

By digitising and connecting these data points, stakeholders can gain valuable insights into a building's history, design intent, and ongoing management. 

The golden thread can provide housing providers with several benefits, which we will explore below.

Enhanced design and construction 

The golden thread ensures accurate information is passed from the design phase to construction teams, resulting in fewer errors, less reworking and a more efficient construction processes. Builders can access real-time information to make informed decisions, leading to improved project timelines and cost control. 

Improved maintenance and sustainability 

In the housing sector, maintenance plays a vital role in ensuring safety and sustainability. The golden thread allows for the creation of digital “as built" models that integrate real-time sensor data. This enables predictive maintenance, where issues can be identified and resolved before they escalate. 

Safety and compliance 

It goes without saying that safety is paramount in construction. The golden thread ensures that safety information, such as fire safety measures and evacuation plans, is readily available. This promotes compliance with regulations and improves emergency response capabilities. 

Transparency and accountability

The golden thread promotes transparency by providing an accessible bank of information for all stakeholders, including homeowners, developers, and regulators, ultimately helping to foster trust and accountability. 

Data-driven urban planning

On a broader scale, aggregated data from the golden thread can be used for urban planning and policy-making. By analysing trends in building performance, energy consumption, and resident behaviour, city planners can make informed decisions that lead to more sustainable and liveable communities.

Untangling knots

While the golden thread brings several benefits, its implementation doesn’t come without challenges. 

These include: 

• Data silos: Building data has typically been siloed in different departments or organisations, which can make it difficult to track changes to the building over time - as well as impeding the sharing of data with stakeholders 
• Lack of standards: There is no single standard for the golden thread of information, which can make it difficult to integrate data from different sources 
• Cost: Implementing the golden thread of information can be expensive, especially for small organisations 
• Culture: The construction industry - and by extension, the housing sector - has traditionally been resistant to change, meaning it can be difficult to implement new processes such as the golden thread 

Other areas to consider when implementing the golden thread include privacy, the standardisation of data formats, and the need for digital skills training within the industry.

Additionally, there exists a need for continuing collaboration among stakeholders to ensure a seamless flow of data.

Extending the thread

The golden thread is set to transform UK housing by establishing a robust information infrastructure that drives efficiency, sustainability, safety, and transparency. As the industry embraces digital transformation, the housing associations, builders, and the wider industry will undoubtedly start to recognise as an essential and invaluable tool.

“The golden thread is one of the most important aspects of the new building safety regime, but also one of the trickiest to get right,” says Matthew Scott, who leads on CIH’s policy and practice work around asset management.

“It places necessary demands on housing providers that require new ways of working with and thinking about data, as well as how to use that data to drive decision making that will keep residents safe and well at home. 

“But slowly, the sector is getting there, and we have already witnessed examples of how the golden thread is positively transforming how providers are approaching safety issues. 

“CIH will continue to share good practice across the sector and support our members to work through all of the challenges identified in this article.”