Policymakers urgently need to recognise social and cultural spaces as essential infrastructure for economic growth and social inclusion, according to a new report.
Such infrastructure should be treated by local and central government “with the same seriousness we give to roads, bridges, or digital networks”.
The report, Measuring Social and Cultural Infrastructure, was produced for the British Academy by the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.
Among its conclusions are that investing in existing infrastructure such as leisure centres, libraries, concert halls, and galleries can “offer significant and immediate returns, delivering better outcomes for citizens and enabling government objectives”.
It calls for a greater focus on the relationship between this social and cultural infrastructure and more traditionally recognised forms of infrastructure such as transport or communications networks.
The report states that “this is key both for enhancing the use and accessibility of existing social and cultural provision and guiding the strategic development of new kinds of provision where gaps are identified”.
New framework
The report brings together the findings of a year-long research initiative that focused on the best ways to measure social and cultural infrastructure, through first identifying this infrastructure and then developing an appropriate framework for assessing its role and impact in communities.
Key to this new framework is the broadening of the definition of social and cultural infrastructure beyond “specific asset types”, avoiding rigid definitions that “may overlook emerging or unconventional forms”.
The framework seeks to ensure that both “conventional and innovative forms of social and cultural infrastructure” are accurately captured and properly recognised in policy decisions.
The British Academy hopes that by developing the new framework, the “crucial role” of this infrastructure in “supporting thriving communities, improving wellbeing and resilience, and addressing policy challenges such as regional inequalities” will be more readily acknowledged by policymakers.
‘Underestimated worth’
Dominic Abrams, professor of social psychology at the University of Kent and academic lead for the British Academy’s social and cultural infrastructure work, said that while we all “instinctively understand” the value of community spaces, “their true worth to society and the economy is often underestimated because we haven’t had robust ways to measure it”.
He continued: “This new framework addresses that challenge by treating social and cultural infrastructure with the same seriousness we give to roads, bridges, or digital networks.
“By clearly articulating the impact these spaces have on wellbeing and economic vitality, we can ensure they receive the investment and protection they deserve.
“Ignoring their value risks undermining both social cohesion and economic growth at a time when both are critically important.”
Professor Michael Kenny, director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, said that while this infrastructure is so vital to communities, it is “often overlooked in policy and planning”.
He added that the new framework “could provide help to a wide range of stakeholders – from policymakers and funders to researchers and community organisations – to map existing assets, understand better the needs of local communities, and make better decisions about which parts of a community’s infrastructure require investment and support”.