The TLG covers areas relevant to the UK built environment sector, such as the following topics and subject matter:

• The integration of social value in the design process for projects, programmes and policies
• Best practice on stakeholder engagement, stakeholder participation and inclusive behaviours during the design phase of built environment projects
• Best practice to predict or evaluate the social value of buildings and places including the social return on investment
• Methods to communicate social value in the design stage
• Best practice to predict and evaluate the social value of buildings and places once they have become established
• Ways of improving future designs as a result of learnings from previous projects

In 2022, a the TLG’s activities included a series of interactive webinars on the topic ‘The Significance of People in the Built Environment’ and all members of the TLG were invited to attend.

If you’re interested in joining this TLG, please contact our Private Sector Lead, Charlotte Osterman.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the TLG is to identify and improve practice and policy relating to the social value of the design and use of buildings and places, and to develop strategies that will lead to positive change.

• Raise awareness of the application and benefits of social value for property and places. This applies to individuals, companies, membership bodies, social value practitioners, the wider sector and society in general
• Improve and increase the skills of people trying to determine social value of property and places by holding informative events and signposting attendees to SVUK training sessions
• Help to grow membership of Social Value UK through increased referrals from the group

These objectives may be achieved by employing several measures and tactics including:

• Lobbying for policy change to make social value a more important consideration when designing built environment projects, and when assessing the success of projects during the post-completion phase
• Proposing funding mechanisms (impact investment, infrastructure grants, etc.) to help integrate pro-social and environmental features into built environment projects
• Creating communication pieces (reports, blogs, articles, webinars etc.) that highlight the importance of social value in the design and use of buildings and places
• Suggesting new features and mechanisms that make it easier for developers, designers and public sector commissioners to maximise social value in all built environment projects
• Properly considering and responding to the needs & feelings of people (the individuals who experience change as a result of built environment projects) are be central to the above objectives