Episode 193 - Social Value

The podcast explores how architects can incorporate social value into their projects, defining it as the positive non-financial impacts on communities, individuals, and the environment. It highlights the increasing importance of social value in procurement, driven by legislation like the Social Value Act 2012 and the Procurement Act 2023, which mandates a minimum 10% scoring for social value in procurement. The episode outlines methods for measuring social value, including post-occupancy evaluations, monetized proxies, and community engagement. A case study of Lewisham Homes illustrates a practical model where resident-driven targets are embedded into commissioning and asset management, leading to improvements in employment, well-being, and environmental standards.