Private space, public good: working together to deliver social infrastructure

Abstract

The state of community space in England has significantly deteriorated in recent years, with hundreds of libraries, community centres, and youth clubs closing due to cuts in public spending. And yet, as our ‘Space for Community’ report found, the private sector plays a key, yet underappreciated, role in the provision of social infrastructure, defined here as “those physical spaces in which regular interactions are facilitated between and within the diverse sections of the community.” As such, the important contribution of the private sector to the provision of social infrastructure – and its ability to do so without large-scale public investment – warrants greater examination. By drawing on evidence of collaboration between private companies, the public sector, and community organisations, this report argues for a cohesive, cross-sector approach to the delivery of social infrastructure that benefits all those involved. This is a timely inquiry. The election of a new government provides a renewed impetus for the re[1]examination of the relationship between the state, community, and the private sector. In this report, we argue that policymakers should better understand how the assets of the private sector, alongside the skills of the public sector, and the in-depth knowledge and understanding of communities, can be harnessed to tackle the pressing social challenges faced by the country.