Sustainable Change to improve People’s Lives

RealWorth Helps to Create Places Which…

• Provide social and environmental value– Increasing equality– Reducing environmental decay

• By…– Thinking, valuing, measuring and accounting

differently– Putting a price on social and environmental

change

Social & Environmental Value?

Crime & Education

Employment & The Environment

Health & Wellbeing

Where is the Sustainable Value in Development?

Investment

Social

Climate Change

Crime

Affordable housing

Financial

Environmental

A future View of Development?

Climate Change

Investment

Crime

Affordable housing

Financial

SocialEnvironmental

The Current View?

Today’s Focus:Low Carbon / Renewables…

BedZED – London, UK

Needs Shifting To:Integrated Sustainable Development

Western Harbour – Malmo, Sweden

Today’s Language of Sustainable Change…

• Policy & Regulation

• Compliance (eg. Planning Consents &

Permitting)

• Operational efficiencies

• Awards / industry standards

Includes…

Environment Sustainably sourced materials

Distributed energy

SocialCommunity liaison committees

Waste recycling Use of secondary materials

Payment of Living Wage

Green Roofs

Biodiverse green space

Energy efficient Buildings

Charitable donations / Corporate Responsibility

Apprenticeships

Local Sustainable Supply Chain Alliances

Employment of local labour

Sustainable urban drainage

Permeable Surfaces

Considerate Contractors

S 106 Agreements

Mainly About Counting Costs…

But What If?...

Tomorrow’s Language & Approach…

Could also incorporate the wider invisible financial value and benefits to everyone:

– Investors / Policy Makers / Businesses

And…– Residents– Communities– Society in general

Environment Flood Prevention

Food Production

Community Cohesion

Social

CO2e reductions

Reduced Crime

Improved Mental Health

Educational Attainment

Improved Physical Health

Recreation

Pride of Place

Improved social cohesion

Job Creation General Wellbeing

Accessible Transport

Recreation

Mitigation of Heat Islands

Visitor Numbers

Less Loneliness

Reduced Anti-Social Behaviour

Bio DiversityCreation of Social Enterprise

Recycled Materials

Habitat Creation

Reduced Debt

Placemaking

Local Amenities

Measuring & Valuing Benefits…

Each of these has a monetary value….

Valuation ToolsMaking the Invisible Visible…

Established, Readily Available Techniques:

Life Cycle Assessment - to assess and compare materials used

Ecosystem Services Analysis - to assess the value of natural landscapes and land-uses created

Social Return on Investment - to assess the social impacts and benefits provided

“Enough Precision for the Decision”

RealWorth Brings All This Together…

By Talking to People and Responding to their needs

• Widely consult and actively listen at the outset

• Set expectation in simple measurable terms• Continue during design and delivery phases• Maintain quality dialogue after completion• Feedback and report on actual results• Take action to improve

What Does It Tell Us? …

Application…

Why Do Sustainable Return on Investment?

• Evaluating projects and programmes• Forecasting and scenario modelling of

designs• Evidencing Grants & Loans• Compliance with the Public Services

(Social Value) Act 2012

Providing a Platform for Creative Debate and EvidenceTo Influence and Convince:• Politicians - to commit resources to social

and environmental aspects a project or programme, particularly in deprived areas

• Funders - to invest or renew investment

• Procurement officers & regulators - to grant permission for a project

Credibility & Support….

Credibility…

RICS Foundation Trust Research Prize…Combining social and environmental valuation techniques to understand the monetary value of social and environmental change in the built environment

Support…Part of an Accredited NetworkGuiding Principles:

• Involve stakeholders• Understand what changes• Value things that matter• Only include what is material• Do not over-claim• Be transparent• Verify the results

Some Clients….

Beyond Projects…

Wider Applications

• Capacity Building & Training

• Organisational Change

• Policy-making and Strategy Support

• Investment decision making

Questions and Discussion