Title:
Extending Social Infrastructure for Connected Communities: Next Steps For Research
Authors:
Kathryn Higgins, Jack Layton, Rob Macmillan, Sarah Pearson, Lucy Terry.
Summary:
This paper discusses the growing literature and evidence base on social infrastructure and identifies a set of key themes and questions for further research.
Social infrastructure does not have a clearly agreed definition but tends to refer to community spaces which support social connection, and includes facilities like community buildings, libraries, parks and play areas and faith spaces.
The evidence base on social infrastructure is developing rapidly, and coalesces around five themes: defining, mapping, accessing, valuing and sustaining social infrastructure.
Research priorities include addressing questions on the presence, distribution, maintenance and condition of social infrastructure; ownership and control of social infrastructure; understanding the importance and local embeddedness of social infrastructure for communities of place and identity; and what ‘good social infrastructure’ could look like, is needed and should be expected.
Cite this Report:
Higgins, K., Layton, J., Macmillan, R., Pearson, S. and Terry, L. (2026). Extending Social Infrastructure for Connected Communities: Next Steps for Research. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://doi.org/10.7190/c4.2026.3204789086
Cover Image Credit:
Ollie Craig Via Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-photography-of-houses-in-a-neighborhood-8793456/
