The Liverpool City Region: Reviewing the Impact of the 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.

The Social Hub: Evaluating the Social Impact of Cross-European Portfolio

The Social Hub (TSH) brand provides hotels, student accommodation and co-working spaces, creating a more connected community. Adding to 21 locations around Europe, TSH wants to improve its social, economic and environmental performance across Europe and has developed plans to upgrade and expand its sites.

To support the assessment of current sites and future plans, TSH contacted RealWorth to demonstrate the social value of different sites across Europe, RealWorth measured and analysed the social change caused by projects and programmes using Social Return On Investment (SROI).

This analysis assisted the TSH sites in demonstrating the benefits of existing sites to its stakeholders and host cities by creating a range of social impact activities. The analysis indicated that the planned improvements could enhance the social value that these locations have brought to their surrounding areas. To date, RealWorth have worked with TSH across multiple sites in Spain, the Netherlands and Scotland.

Young Voices: Evaluating the Economic and Social Impact of a National Music Programme

Young Voices are the largest school choir in the world. Their programme links skill and educational development to the power of music and has developed a reputation amongst educators and venues that sees repeat and increased participation year on year, making a positive impact on those involved and their wider community.

To explain the impact the choir has on its young people, Young Voices tasked RealWorth in collaboration with Sound Diplomacy to understand the economic and social value of 27 concerts between January and February 2023. RealWorth conducted a Social Return on Investment study and calculated the value of the social impact of music education. Over time, our report will allow Young Voices to expand its reach and make the project even more accessible to children from all backgrounds.

Earls Court Development Company: Supporting the Social Impact of the Earls Court Masterplan

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.

a-r-c-s: Evaluating the Social Impact of Lower Stable Street

In 2024, a-r-c-s commissioned RealWorth to evaluate the social impact of its activities over a 12-month period using the Social Return on Investment approach. The study assessed how a-r-c-s distinctive model – flexible turnover-based rents, community driven programming, and free event space – supports inclusive growth and cultural participation in King’s Cross.

2-3 Degrees: Measuring the Value of The Crown Estate Youth Panel

2-3 Degrees is a social enterprise that aims to inspire and equip young people with personal development skills needed to fulfil their potential. In partnership with The Crown Estate (TCE), 2-3 Degrees set up a Youth Panel to provide a youth voice on regeneration projects across London and within the Crown Estate properties.

RealWorth was commissioned to evaluate and quantify the social value generated by the young people as a result of their experience on the Panel. The study assessed the programme’s capability to deliver social value from the youth participant’s perspective, including growth in confidence, skills, career aspirations and knowledge, with the benefits expressed both quantitatively through case studies and qualitatively through a social return on investment (SROI) value.

St Michael's Hospice: Assessing the Social Value

St Michael's Hospice supports people in Hastings and Rother to live well with dying, death and loss. As well as providing in-patient hospice care, it offers bereavement support, rehabilitation support, spiritual support, wellbeing services and community outreach (amongst other things). In 2024, St Michael's commissioned RealWorth to demonstrate the difference it creates in its community through a social return on investment analysis, RealWorth helped St Michael's quantify the social benefits of the hospice, including the value of helping people feel prepared, connected, and less vulnerable when life gets tough.

Our work revealed that for every £1 invested in St Michael's, it returns £1.50 in value to its local community. This figure helps the charity to demonstrate its impact, providing evidence for funders, partners, and policymakers that investment in hospice care creates significant social return. Our report also helped St Michael's improve its strategy, using insights to strengthen strategic decisions behind service design and delivery. Lastly, our report helped St Michael's communicate its value to the wider public, helping them understand that hospice care isn’t just about end-of-life; it creates economic, social, and wellbeing benefits for the whole community.

To read the full report, see here.

Cathedral Group: Assessing the Social Value of Moulsecoomb Place

Moulsecoomb Place is a Grade II Listed 18th-century house in the Moulsecoomb area of the English coastal city of Brighton and Hove. In 2022, the Mansion and grounds were purchased by TOWN and Cathedral, with the intention to restore Moulsecoomb Place, the tithe barn and the gardens and devise a use for the property that will provide a benefit for the community. Current plans for the site include student accommodation, leisure and retail units, a community hub, the restoration of the historic gardens, improved access to the nearby Moulsecoomb railway station, greater public access to the gardens and historic buildings, and the creation of an “affordable and sustainable” place to get food and drink.

RealWorth was commissioned in December 2022 by Cathedral Group and TOWN. to produce a social value assessment of the scheme at Moulsecoomb place. The team worked closely with the client to analyse the social impact of this scheme and make recommendations for optimisation of social value for this scheme.

The report demonstrated the potential public benefits of the scheme in a concise manner and supported the planning application for the scheme submitted to Brighton & Hove.

Vita Group: Assessing the Social Value of Circle Square

Circle Square is a new neighbourhood developed on the former BBC site in Manchester City Centre. It includes student accommodation, residential flats, commercial and retail space, revitalised public realm and a new central park. The development was a joint venture between Vita Group and Bruntwood.

RealWorth was appointed by Vita Group to assist in identifying and measuring the social value that will be created by the Vita Living and Vita Student Buildings, Symphony Park and the associated public realm improvements. We were also asked to make recommendations on how social impact of this and future schemes could be optimised.

Manchester City Council: Forecasting the Social Value of St Michael's

St. Michael’s is a mixed-use development featuring a world-class hotel / residential tower and 180,000ft2 of sustainable workspace. The scheme creates a vibrant new public square comprising new bars and restaurants alongside the retained Sir Ralph Abercromby Pub.

RealWorth was appointed by Manchester City Council to identify the social value that is likely to be created by the development. We worked with the Developer, the Local Authority and the Design Team to describe and quantify the social impact that the scheme will have on the neighbourhood and the wider City Region.

The evidence provided in the report helped gain the support of the Manchester City Council for the scheme’s advancement.

WSP & Homes England: Creating a Social Value Strategy for Nene Valley Villages

RealWorth was appointed by WSP and Homes England to draft a locally-tailored social value strategy for Nene Valley Village in Peterborough, informed by a model assessment criteria process of co-design. The project included hosting a workshop for Homes England, to discuss a social infrastructure assessment and identify potential locally-relevant social value opportunities, priorities and place-based indicators that align with Homes England’s Strategic Plan 2023-2038 and Peterborough City Council Local Plan 2023-2044. It also included holding meetings with local stakeholders to identify community-led initiatives that the project could support, as well as identifying social value opportunities, priorities and place-based indicators.