Liam Ronan-Chlond, engagement lead at mixed-use property developer, First Base, explains why more developers should commit to delivering social value as part of their schemes – and build trust with the public while they’re at it.
For too long the relationship between developers and communities has been breaking down, with a recent report showing less than two percent of people trust developers to act in an honest way when planning and executing large developments.
This shocking statistic certainly made us sit up and listen, especially as we formulated plans for our £175 million Soapworks scheme at the former Gardiner Haskins site in Bristol – a site which sits within one of the most deprived areas of the city.
The Gardiner Haskins warehouse was a much-loved Bristol institution, so we knew that to win over the hearts and minds of the public, we needed to create a place that truly delivers on the evolving wants and needs of the communities it serves.
Thankfully, our loud and clear commitment to ‘social value’ during the consultation phase meant more than 80 percent of the 5,000+ respondents approved of our plans for the iconic, Grade II-listed building.
Hopefully, this shows we’ve struck the right chord with the Bristol public, but we alone can’t turn the tide on the frankly woeful national sentiment. With trust figures as low as they are, we believe decisive and collective action is needed – and fast - to help rebuild trust with an increasingly cautious public.
Of course, we need our schemes to deliver profit, but we also have a duty to create wider economic, environmental and social value for our communities. In fact, for long-term developers like us, we can really only be profitable if we support our surrounding community and improve local opportunities, life chances and wellbeing.
What is social value?
According to Social Value UK, social value is ‘the quantification of the relative importance people place on the changes they experience in their lives’. They are the things that are important to us but that are not necessarily expressed in financial terms.
This could be access to green and open spaces, training and development opportunities or improvements to local health and wellbeing provision.
For First Base, social value is the framework we use to leverage the investment made in our developments to improve local outcomes within the communities we serve. This includes all the opportunities and provisions above, plus much, much more.
Social value is becoming increasingly important to local authorities across the UK, including here in Bristol, to understand the genuine impact of modern regeneration. It’s why we worked with the Social Value Portal, backed by Bristol City Council, to devise a Social Value Action Plan which we submitted with our planning application earlier this year.
The Social Value Action Plan for Soapworks includes a Local Needs Analysis and also aligns with key policies and measurement frameworks, from Bristol’s One City Plan to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
If our planning application is approved by the council over the next few months, we will instantly embark on delivering up to £200 million of social value outcomes for Soapworks over the next 20 years, through:
- Developing a diverse economy and balanced communities
- Improving sustainable transport connectivity
- Cleaner energy and improved environment
- Improving educational outcomes
- Reducing crime
- Reducing social and economic isolation and improving health and wellbeing
- Minimising homelessness
However, as an industry, we can really only commit to delivering social value if we understand the landscape of an area and properly consult with the local community first. By truly understanding their wants and needs early on in the planning process, we can create schemes that not only have their best interests at heart but contribute to a thriving local economy.
Last year, before finalising our proposals for the Soapworks, we launched an innovative and digital-led consultation process which gave thousands of people the chance to have their say on the proposals – many of whom wouldn’t have bothered in a traditional consultation forum.
However, it’s not just about the numbers. Engagement levels are encouraging, but it’s what we as developers do with the data that really counts.
As Britain looks towards recovery and ‘building back better’, we’re urging developers to make better use of their research and feedback by creating their own Social Value Action Plans. Taking a more holistic, longer term and place-based approach enables us to invest in the future and rebuild trust with the public; and there’s no reason why this approach shouldn’t work for others too.
We look forward to delivering genuine long-term social value at the Soapworks, supporting Bristol’s inclusive and sustainable recovery and working in partnership with the local community to deliver improved outcomes in jobs, skills, health, wellbeing and the local environment.
Chamber member, First Base is investing over £175m into the Soapworks scheme on the site of the former Gardiner Haskins warehouse. Achieving high quality and sustainable design, the privately-owned developer is providing new homes, work and social spaces that are fit for the future. Inspired by heritage, First Base will bring the Soapworks back to life with exciting spaces for local independent food, drink, arts and culture.
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