It has never been more urgent to embed social value into our built environment
Like the years preceding them, choices made in the next ten years in shaping housing and urban spaces will continue to have a ripple-like effect influencing societal well-being, inclusivity and collective empowerment.
This means the environment we build must go beyond mere utility; it means creating spaces that enhance wellbeing and contribute to individual and collective flourishing.
All of us in the built environment know that our work delivers incredible results. And thanks to social value measurement frameworks, we will soon be able to clearly articulate what that value looks like and make appropriate decisions to maximise the benefit to all occupants and visitors.
Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
In recent years, GBCA has worked tirelessly to ensure our tools, as part of the future focus program, are rooted in social value — just as they are rooted in sustainability.
Hassell and GBCA have come together for this discussion paper, Social Value in the Built Environment, to raise awareness and consolidate global and local social value work. It is our hope that this will help governments and industry understand the current state of the measurement of social value in the built environment sector and spark a curiosity for what else is possible.
Why does social value matter?
In the face of pressing issues that demand our collective attention, from extreme weather events to rising temperatures and biodiversity loss, to name just a few, we must ensure that the transition to a zero carbon, nature positive future is equitable — guaranteeing that vulnerable communities are not left behind.
The time for action is now.
To find out more, read our discussion paper, Social Value in the Built Environment.
Read our media release Download the paper