5 reasons why developers invest in social value
Back in the day, developers built the homes and infrastructure and the people who moved in created the community. Sometimes, strong connections happened naturally. Sometimes they didn’t.
These days, developers aren’t leaving this to chance.
More and more are investing in the people and partnerships that help communities grow. They know that strong communities don’t just benefit residents. They can also create long-term value for a development.
Before we get into how, let’s talk about what social value actually is.
What is social value?
Social value is the positive impact a project creates for people and places, beyond the bottom line.
In property development, this might include supporting community connections, improving access to services, partnering with local organisations, or creating places where people feel connected and proud to live.
When social value is considered early, it doesn’t just benefit communities. It creates tangible benefits for developers.
Here are five of them.
Building social value in a place doesn’t just benefit residents. It creates the social conditions that make developments easier to deliver, more resilient, and more desirable over time.
1. Approvals are smoother
Every development has an impact on the people around it. When these people know what’s happening, they’re more likely to support what’s being built.
Residents want to know what’s changing. Local government wants confidence that your project will have a positive impact, and community groups want to know how you fit into the bigger picture.
When developers invest time in listening and building relationships with the people their project affects, they create trust.
Trust doesn’t guarantee approvals. But it can help reduce resistance, identify issues earlier and create opportunities to address concerns before they become bigger problems.
It also creates a more constructive environment for decision-making, which can make projects easier to deliver.
2. Tenders are won
Many tenders now ask developers to demonstrate how a project will benefit the community around it.
It’s no longer enough to show what you’re building. They also want to know how the development will contribute to the lives of the people who live and work there.
A strong approach to social value helps answer these questions.
It shows that you’ve considered the long-term needs of the community and thought about what success looks like beyond the build.
When several proposals meet the technical requirements, a clear social value approach can be what sets your submission apart.
3. You get a great rep
When people are really into something, they talk. That’s what happens when residents feel connected to where they live. They tell their friends about local events, and they recommend the area to family.
Over time, these stories build a reputation that goes beyond the development itself.
The Village at Wellard is one example. Peet invested in community building early, creating opportunities for residents to get involved and connect with one another.
More than 20 years later, many residents are still proud to call Wellard home.
4. People want to live there
When a community has a strong social fabric, people feel that. They see it in the way neighbours look after each other, and in how parks and other public spaces are used.
There’s a pride and sense of belonging, which makes a place feel welcoming.
Of course, these aren’t the only reasons people choose a place to live, but they do influence how people feel about a development, and whether they can imagine calling it home.
5. Partnerships are built
When you’re building community, you never have to start from scratch. Look around and you’ll notice people already doing great work, who you can connect with.
Local schools, government, community organisations and sporting clubs all have existing relationships and local knowledge about the people they serve.
Working with them can help developers create initiatives that have a greater impact on their community. This could mean co-funding essential infrastructure, sharing resources or supporting projects that may not have been possible otherwise.
Need support with your development?
We work alongside developers to identify social value opportunities that make sense for your project and the people who will call it home.
