DP9 is excited to announce our new Head of Social Value, allowing us to offer in-house social value consultancy services. This enhances our planning expertise and amplifies the positive impacts of your projects. Our approach combines data, research, and business acumen to ensure effective strategies. Our services are divided into three main areas.

Embedding Social Value into

Masterplan Strategies

True net additional social value is more likely to be delivered if a high-level strategy is developed at the beginning of a project.

  • Develop an overarching strategy at the project’s start to deliver true net additional social value.
  • Include a theory of change for new and existing communities.
  • Quantify action plans at the pre-application stage and create high-level management plans.
  • Use both quantitative and qualitative evidence from consultations with key groups.
  • Ensure plans align with key policy principles.

Social Impact

Action plans

At DP9 we define Social Value as the positive contributions a business or organisation makes to society. Social impact is then the long-term sustainable
net-additional benefits in the area. We follow the UK Green Building Council approach to social value i.e. designing in actions at pre-application stage to deliver real benefits throughout construction and operation. Our approach is as follows:

  • Conduct baseline analysis using key ONS datasets (or similar), site information and qualitative evidence from consultations to identify strengths, opportunities and challenges.
  • Research community assets, infrastructure, and local groups to determine their current social impacts.
  • Develop a suite of clear measurable actions to be delivered in the -short, -medium and -long term.
  • Shortlist actions based on impact, sustainability and deliverability to determine the final implementation plan.

Actions may include:

  • Design of ancillary spaces for flexible community.
  • Employment programmes to reserve work opportunities for local residents and provide training to fill necessary skills gaps in the adjacent area.
  • School outreach programmes to build confidence in students and prepare them for higher education or the world of work.

Monetised Social

Value statements

We use financial analysis to understand the social value return on investment using the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust Social Value Portal and Impact Reporting’s Measure Up Programme.

Organisational

strategies

We can develop a bespoke social value strategy for your organisation. This includes assessing the outreach or community activities you are currently undertaking. We then suggest additional activities to build on what is already offered and suggest a new suite of activities. We then quantify the actions undertaken to set out measurable targets that can be delivered in a certain timeframe.

For further information, reach out to our Head of Social Value Tiffany Hepher on tiffany.hepher@dp9.co.uk