Details:
- Company: Knight Frank LLP
- Client: Knight Frank
- Year: 2025
- Region: UK-wide
Service areas:
- Community engagement
- Geographical information systems (GIS) and mapping
- Environmental and sustainability services
Introduction
Real estate has the power to shape communities, and with the right insights, it can transform them for the better. Knight Frank’s Social Needs Snapshot Tool enables clients to design developments and regeneration projects that respond directly to local priorities, delivering measurable economic, social, and environmental benefits. By combining data analysis with a place-based approach, the tool helps identify critical local needs, address inequalities, and close service gaps.
Challenges
Understanding the unique social, economic, and environmental needs of specific areas is a complex undertaking. Combining datasets on these themes and building a tool to clearly convey underlying key messages was a significant challenge. As social value becomes increasingly central to planning and development, it is essential to set community-driven targets and focus investment where it will have the greatest impact.
Solutions
Knight Frank’s approach leverages a data-led, community-focused methodology. The Social Needs Snapshot Tool conducts a thorough policy review, analyses local council strategies and priorities, maps deprivation to highlight key social challenges and opportunities, and provides a comprehensive needs assessment across economic, social, and environmental themes. Assessments are aligned with the National Social Value Measurement Framework (National TOMs), covering jobs and growth, social issues such as crime rates, and environmental concerns including air quality and access to green space. Data sources such as the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), census data, and local authority statistics are used to locate areas most in need and provide essential demographic and economic context.
Results
The outcome is a set of actionable, place-specific strategies that direct resources where they will achieve the greatest impact, strengthen community engagement, and deliver long-term value. By providing clear and targeted recommendations, the tool supports clients in closing service gaps, addressing inequalities, and achieving lasting social, economic, and environmental improvements within their communities.
