According to the British Property Federation, the UK real estate sector directly employs over 1.2 million people and contributes over £100 billion to the economy.
These figures offer a glimpse into the value of buildings to our national economy. But what about their impact beyond the bottom line? How can stakeholders in the built environment ensure that buildings deliver long-lasting value to the communities they serve, adapting to meet their evolving needs and improving overall wellbeing?
Here we explore case studies shared by two of our customers – Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and WSP – at the recent Social Value Conference on measuring and maximising positive impact at all stages of the real estate lifecycle.
Ebbsfleet Garden City: A blueprint for community-focused development
Lara Pool, Inclusive Growth Manager at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, presented the ambitious Ebbsfleet Garden City project – a prime example of how to embed Social Value in a development project from the ground up.
This massive regeneration project is transforming 2,500 acres of previous brownfield land in North Kent into a thriving community development. It will include:
Despite the fast pace of the project, which is building over 600 houses a year, there is a big focus on retaining green areas, with over 40% of the landscape dedicated to green or blue spaces.
Ebbsfleet's commitment to Social Value is evident in its impressive track record: over £31 million generated since January 2022. This has been measured using the Social Value TOM System™, focusing on 18 Themes, Outcomes and Measures the business identified as particularly material to the project. These metrics are aligned with the company’s sustainable development strategy, and prioritise key areas such as local employment, skills development, and community engagement.
Beside choosing the right metrics to measure Social Value, the secret of Ebbsfield's success lies in collaboration. In fact, the business engaged developers and housebuilders, as well as procured and non-procured suppliers, to deliver an ambitious Social Value agenda.
The outcomes are remarkable:
- Housebuilders committed to employing a local workforce, with approximately 20% of construction jobs going to local residents
- Apprenticeship schemes provided opportunities for young people to gain valuable construction skills
- Employability programmes upskilled 54 local people, of whom 36 were ‘Not in employment, education or training’ (NEET), with 33 going straight into work
Ebbsfield also invested in employability programmes, student engagement and community assets to further amplify the project’s Social Value impact.
The results speak for themselves: over 2,000 people were employed, including 32 apprentices, and a thriving community with a focus on health and wellbeing was created.
WSP: Spotlight on people-led engineering
Engineering is undergoing a powerful transformation, shifting from performance-driven targets to a people-centred approach.
This was the message shared by Michela Martini, Technical Director at WSP. People-led engineering involves designing buildings and community projects by considering how they will impact local residents across their whole lifecycle: from planning to end-of-life.
Michela showcased two insightful examples of this approach:
The Undershaft
Poised to be a 76-storey skyscraper, containing 1.2 million square feet of office space, The Undershaft has been designed as more than simply corporate office space. It will also include public and educational spaces, viewing galleries, restaurants, and other amenities, creating a vibrant hub for the whole community to enjoy.
Thanks to careful planning, the new building will be used by different audiences at different times of the day. This will attract people to the City and provide Social Value for a diverse range of users.
The London Tunnels
The London Tunnels, on the other hand, plans to repurpose a disused World War II shelter and open it to the public, generating Social Value through a new community space.
The project intends to preserve the Tunnels’ unique historical features, offering a glimpse into London’s wartime past, while creating a community hub for a variety of cultural activities.
Michela stressed the importance of a strategic approach to people-led engineering. This means spaces that adapt to the evolving needs of the community and facilitate ongoing community engagement.
Through projects like these, WSP has already surpassed its ambitious goal of delivering £120 million of Social Value between 2022 and 2024.
In fact, they achieved £140 million in 2023 alone and £277 million over the two years.
Top tips for delivering Social Value through real estate
Here are some of our experts’ top tips for creating a bigger and better impact with your buildings:
- Don’t spread yourself too thin: When setting Social Value goals, focus on Measures (such as those found in the Social Value TOM System™) which are most relevant to your operations.
- Align metrics with business goals: Make sure your Social Value goals are in line with your sustainability and wider business objectives.
- Consider the connection between buildings and wellbeing: Evaluate the physical, psychological and financial wellbeing of communities impacted by local development projects – including parameters such as health, financial inclusion and community cohesion.
- Nurture collaborations: Bring developers, housebuilders and suppliers into your Social Value agenda – ideally early on into the planning process. An example would be employing local workers and creating apprenticeship programmes.
- Consider the principles of people-led engineering: Consider how the business can deliver the most value to the highest possible number of people across the whole life cycle of a building. Can it serve different users at different times? Can public and educational spaces be incorporated? Is there a chance that some spaces might remain underutilised, and if so, what can be done?
Building with Social Value in mind
For more insights, watch the full panel discussion: Buildings can (and should) deliver more value for our communities.
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