This current edition of Infrastructure Intelligence highlights an issue that is increasingly becoming one of the hottest topics facing the construction sector – and that topic is social value.

Social value is increasingly being highlighted as a crucial requirement on construction and infrastructure projects, but how often does the industry ask itself the question: “What is the purpose of infrastructure?” Surely, the primary purpose of infrastructure and the built environment is serving the needs of communities, delivering better social outcomes and improving the quality of people’s lives. So, social value should be an intrinsic part of what our industry does on every project.

But how good is our industry at putting people and their needs at the very heart of the way in which we design and deliver projects? What can we do to ensure that infrastructure is maximising all the opportunities available to it to leave a positive social legacy for the communities in which we work? Here at Infrastructure Intelligence, we are trying to help answer those questions.

On Friday 26 March, in association with our strategic partner BECG, we are organising a special online conference that will take a deep dive into the issue of social value and construction and look to map a way forward that can future-proof projects for generations to come and help to deliver a social legacy for construction and infrastructure. 

I’d urge all our readers to check out the conference programme on page 16-17 and book a free place at what should be a fascinating event. I look forward to seeing you there!

Andy Walker is the editor of Infrastructure Intelligence.

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