The best developers understand they have a responsibility to create lasting value for communities not simply deliver buildings.

That principle runs through the entire lifecycle of a project, from early engagement to long-term stewardship and it has clear implications for how projects are procured and delivered. Planning permission may secure a set of commitments on paper but it is procurement – and, in particular, the start of construction – where those commitments are first translated into reality and tested in a visible way.

Why social value matters in construction procurement

Local people are often sceptical about what development will deliver for them. Many will have seen schemes where promises around jobs, training or local investment felt remote or slow to materialise. The beginning of construction therefore carries real weight - it is the first point at which people can judge whether what was discussed during planning is actually being delivered.