Perspectives 2019

Southend Airport Business Park Southend Council procured Henry Boot Ltd to develop its land for a business park that will deliver around 2,700 new jobs, as well as £645M net additional Gross Value Added for the local economy. The project is securing additional community benefits including enabling infrastructure, an innovation centre (part-funded by the Local Enterprise Partnership), and new facilities for Southend Rugby Club. Basildon town centre Basildon Council has worked with its development partner Barratt Wilson Bowden to deliver regeneration projects that include new community sports facilities (a bowls club, athletics track and leisure centre) part funded by enabling residential development alongside major new environmental enhancements to a local park, including a new lake. Hemel Hempstead town centre Dacorum Council has worked with other public sector landowners, its development partner RG Carter and Endurance Estates to deliver a new public sector hub and library. The scheme enabled development that has generated 250 jobs in the local area, while 100 apprenticeships were also achieved by working with the local college. Knowle West, Bristol The Department for Education and ‘The Park’ (a local charity) are developing a new secondary school and community hub including sports facilities. The project will sustain over 100 jobs. The planning process is being informed by engagement with the ‘Knowle West Alliance’ – a partnership of residents, businesses and community organisations. These examples can be built on, with all sectors of society having a role to play. Businesses and government can do more to connect with communities to understand what drives them. First, using the results of this engagement, businesses can then build trust by delivering broader benefits from their investment and their supply chains that meet community needs. Second, the government needs to consult more transparently, target spending appropriately, and be clearer on what it expects from private sector partners. The prize is large – if pursued deliberately, a focus on social value will allow businesses to build competitive advantage in a way that also lets society benefit from the economic, social and environmental rewards. In the public sector, many local authorities are already setting out strategies to promote social value CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD 25 SPOTLIGHT ON