02/01/2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM KLEDESIGN!
We step into 2026 with renewed energy, creative clarity and the drive to build great things with real momentum.
We have set ourselves 3 New Year’s resolutions that KLEDESIGN will focus our efforts on —
1. THE HIGH STREET 🛒
The UK High Street has faced undeniable pressures — from online retail growth to rising operational costs — but within these challenges we see a landscape of emerging opportunity. Empty units and shifting economics are paving the way for new forms of community‑driven space: flexible work hubs, creator studios, even co‑working spaces within banks, and first‑time retail ventures. We may not know exactly what these spaces will become, but KLEDESIGN know with absolute certainty that we want to be part of shaping them.
2. COMMUNITY 🫂
Most recently we’ve begun an exciting new scheme for 2026: a community boxing gym occupying unused former council office premises within the London Borough of Hounslow. Re‑using and re‑purposing these spaces brings unique challenges that keep our problem‑solving sharp, and with the growing focus on net‑zero targets, reducing waste, and advancing sustainable construction, we expect refurbishment and renovation to continue rising in prominence as we move through 2026.
3. MEND & EXTEND 🔨
After a turbulent period of rising costs, stalled sales, limited new building and expensive borrowing, many residential property owners have, through their mortgage renewals, seen significant rises in the perceived value of their homes and the equity now available to them — at a time when selling up and moving to a larger home has become increasingly expensive and, for many, simply not an option. KLEDESIGN have noted a marked rise in enquiries from clients wanting to make the very best and most economical use of the space they already occupy — not always requiring a more expensive built extension.
Additionally…
KLEDESIGN are continually educating ourselves to better serve our clients as the industry evolves. With the growing need for certifiable, measurable performance standards, we believe Passivhaus offers a clear and future‑proofed pathway. In 2026, we will be undertaking formal Passivhaus training to become certified designers — enabling us to deliver refined, sustainable, and truly measurable outcomes across our projects.
