SUR LAB ANNUAL WORKSHOP: CREATING SOCIAL VALUE THROUGH URBAN REGENERATION
Social value refers to the set of tangible and intangible benefits that contribute to improving the well-being of communities, such as environmental quality, access to services, public health, social housing, social cohesion, and safety. Despite its growing relevance, its assessment remains challenging due to the lack of standardised tools, fragmented data, and the absence of a clear regulatory framework. However, growing attention at both European and national levels, driven by the expansion of ESG policies and sustainable finance, has begun to create new opportunities for methodological innovation and practical implementation.
The core of the event was the presentation of SUR Lab’s annual Position Paper, which explores innovative methodologies and emerging tools for assessing the social impacts generated by urban regeneration projects.
The Position Paper is available on the SUR Lab website.
Another key moment was the launch of the ESG Urban Track, a new assessment tool developed under the MUSA – Spoke 1 initiative. This tool offers concrete, transparent, and locally adaptive methods to evaluate urban regeneration projects' performance and compliance with the ESG dimensions.
The ESG Urban Track is available HERE.
The workshop gathered urban policymakers, private developers, institutional investors, and international experts, who all underlined the need to move beyond fragmented approaches by integrating the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of development. Discussions emphasised that projects capable of generating genuine social value tend to be more resilient over time and increasingly attractive to investors. Collaboration between public and private actors emerged as a key success factor, alongside the importance of long-term planning that responds to real community needs and focuses on enhancing local areas.
Workshop keynote speakers
Francesco Billari – Rector of Bocconi University
Edoardo Croci - Director of SUR Lab, Bocconi University
Mario Abbadessa - Senior Managing Director, Head of Transactions Europe & Country Head Italy, Hines Giancarlo Tancredi - Assessore alla Rigenerazione Urbana, Comune di Milano
Tania Molteni - Research fellow SUR Lab, Bocconi University
Benedetta Lucchitta - Research fellow SUR Lab, Bocconi University
Erica Abisso - Head of ESG Advisory, IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, Intesa Sanpaolo
Ricky Burdett – Director of LSE Cities
Andrea Colantonio - Lead Economist, Urban development, European Investment Bank
Alessandra Dal Verme - Director, Agenzia del Demanio
Alessandro Busci - CEO, Prelios Group
Antonella Carù - Vice Rector for Development and Alumni Relations, Bocconi University