The term social value is slightly meaningless to most people, but there is a sense that you know it when you see it.

One way to bring about change is to use the planning method of “backcasting”. This involves envisaging where you would like to be and identifying the changes needed to make it happen. It’s a technique used, for example, by the Reading 2050 group to envisage the best way to achieve a “smart and sustainable city”.

I recently joined a group of social value enthusiasts at a workshop organised by the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) at the Greater London Authority (GLA). The LSDC provides independent advice to the mayor on his duty to deliver sustainable development in the capital. The members are now looking at how social value can be delivered as part of the regeneration of London. The GLA are the people responsible for standing our view of London on its head, repurposing it as the first National Park City. They are an extremely positive team.

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