The Liverpool City Region: Spatial Development Strategy

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) is a statutory planning document that provides a strategic plan for the development and use of land across six local authorities. The SDS will set out an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of the Liverpool City Region.

RealWorth has a long-running appointment with the LCRCA to deliver an ongoing social value evaluation of the SDS. Since 2019, RealWorth has been tasked with evaluating the social value of every policy within the SDS at every stage in its development, to ensure that it considers social impacts in areas such as health and wellbeing, as well as their economic outcomes.

Earls Court Development Company: Earls Court

The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) are responsible for driving the regeneration of the, circa 40 acres, former Earls Court Exhibition Centre site. In 2021, ECDC appointed RealWorth to measure the social value of the activities associated with the regeneration process and has since been retained as the Development Partnership’s Social Value Advisor to help define and implement its social value strategy.

This long-term appointment seeks to integrate social value into a wide range of functions conducted by ECDC during the planning, design, construction, and occupation phases of the development.

The work that RealWorth is doing is used by ECDC to underpin the design and development of the project, working towards a completed development that has embedded social value at every stage.

Vinnova: Developing a Social Value Model for Sweden

RealWorth was part of a Swedish team commissioned to develop an approach to optimise and measure the social value of regeneration programmes across Sweden. There was specific emphasis on community cohesion and how role of planning and design could be used to deliver local lasting impact. The project included four Swedish case studies in Malmö and Lund to test the approach in the field.

1Energy: Social Value Framework

1Energy is an independent developer of Low-to-Zero Carbon (LZC) heat networks in urban areas across the UK. 1Energy has the potential to significantly contribute to Net Zero targets, enhance air quality and public health, influence behavioural changes and support local economies through job creation and skill development. 1Energy asked RealWorth to develop a proposal for the creation of a Social Impact Strategy and general approach to measuring, optimising and reporting on the social value created by their activities.   

First, RealWorth developed a Strategic Framework that provided a clear and concise overview to 1Energys social impact. Second, a Social Impact Report was created, including of a gap analysis to demonstrate the additional social impact that could be created with similar levels of resource. 

Transport for London: Development Framework

Throughout 2019 to 2021 RealWorth supported Transport for London (TfL) in developing a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for its newly published Sustainable Development Framework (SDF). This began an optimisation brief pilot for assets and amenities around TfL development sites. The intention was to provide guidance and resources to prospective developers to produce site-specific guidance and advice and to conform to TfL’s expected and desired standards.

RealWorth reviewed the KPIs for three themes within the framework – Social Cohesion, Vibrant Places and Liveable Communities – and later wrote guidance notes for how to achieve good and best practices for each RealWorth-recommended KPI.

Developers that wish to bid for projects on TfL land will be required to set targets and meet those targets. Applying these KPIs to new developments on TfL land will provide wider social benefits for the community and provide value beyond direct financial returns. RealWorth also prepared guidance notes for each of the prepared KPIs. Preferred developers for projects will follow these guidance notes to achieve each KPI.

In Spring 2021 it was announced that the SDF got the highest possible score of 5 stars from GRESB. It also ranked 1st in the UK and 4th in Europe of all GRESB evaluations in 2020.

Creative Estuary: Impact Evaluation and Social Value Framework

Creative Estuary has been established to transform 60 miles of the Thames Estuary across Essex and Kent into one of the most exciting cultural hubs in the world.

To measure and enhance its impact, RealWorth was commissioned to develop a comprehensive Evaluation Framework.

By embedding a rigorous evaluation process, Creative Estuary is setting a standard for cultural regeneration, ensuring its initiatives create lasting and measurable change.

WSP & Homes England: South East Warrington Urban Extension

The Southeast Warrington Urban Extension is set to deliver more than 4,200 homes, of which more than 30% will be affordable housing. The development has social value and inclusive design at its heart and aims to create a sustainable community with strong links into the existing urban area and town centre.  

RealWorth was commissioned to create a Social Value Strategy for the scheme, to ensure that the construction, design, and occupation stages of the development maximised its benefits for local people. The Strategy will form part of the development framework, to be used by developers, constructors and operators of the site.  

RealWorth also worked with Meeting Place to develop a data collection strategy to capture social value over the next 12 months using the agreed place-based indicators and the OECD wellbeing factors to capture people’s lived experience. 

Everton Football Club: ‘The People’s Project'

Everton Football Club is currently in the process of building a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock in Liverpool. The Club wanted to understand and optimise the social value created by the stadium move. “The People’s Project” was created, combining the development of the new stadium with a legacy project for the use of the existing stadium ground.

Everton FC appointed RealWorth to understand, measure and communicate the social value associated with its stadium move from Goodison Park to Bramley-Moore Dock.

This comprised a review of the Club’s charity Everton in the Community (EitC), the new stadium itself and the effect that the Legacy Project at Goodison was likely to have in the future.

U+I Plc: Portfolio Review

Now known as Landsec U+I, the company is a specialist mixed-use regeneration developer that has excelled at re-imagining and re-purposing buildings and places that are no longer fit for purpose. In 2021, U+I asked RealWorth to assess the social value of 20 different projects within its portfolio with a combined value of over £1.5bn

RealWorth analysed and reported on the social value created by the U+I developments. RealWorth also provided a series of recommendations highlighting areas of best practice both within U+I and in the wider sector to further enhance the social value potential of the portfolio.

The report was used to show analysts and potential investors how social value featured in U+I’s thinking when they planned for and designed regeneration schemes.