A new report from The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods has been published which explains why neighbourhoods need places like community centres, parks, and libraries.
The report, ‘Social Infrastructure and Social Capital – the Active Elements of Community Resilience’, explores how these spaces help communities stay strong and safe, especially during difficult times.
The report outlines why community spaces aren’t luxuries—they’re as essential as roads and electricity. They’re where democracy happens in daily life: where people learn to disagree respectfully, solve problems together, and build the trust that holds society together.
Without these spaces, lies spread unchecked, loneliness grows, and communities become vulnerable to violence. With them, neighbourhoods become strong, resilient, and safe.
The choice is clear: invest now in places where people meet, or pay much more later when things fall apart.
In 2011, riots broke out across England. Researchers found something important: 71% of these riots happened in areas where people didn’t know their neighbours well and had few places to meet. When similar violence happened in 2024 after a tragedy in Southport, the same pattern appeared.
When communities don’t have places where different people can meet and talk, dangerous lies spread quickly on social media. Without real conversations in real places, people believe these lies more easily.
Social infrastructure means the buildings and spaces where people gather: parks, libraries, community centres, sports pitches, and markets.
Social capital is harder to see, but it’s what happens when people use these spaces. It’s the friendships, trust, and connections that grow when neighbours meet regularly. Think of it like a safety net made of relationships.The report calls these the “civic broccoli” of communities—not exciting, but essential for health!
These spaces help build three types of connections:
- Bonding – Strong ties within your own group (family, close friends)
- Bridging – Links between different groups (meeting people different from you)
- Linking – Connections to people in charge (local councillors, officials)
All three matter. The second type—bridging—is especially important for stopping riots and violence.
During the 2011 riots, some neighbourhoods with similar poverty stayed peaceful. Why? They had active community centres, youth clubs, and sports facilities. When trouble started:
- Youth centres gave young people somewhere to go instead of joining riots
- Community centres held emergency meetings where residents planned how to protect their area
- Religious buildings opened for different communities to talk and calm tensions
The report shows that spending money on community spaces saves much more money later:
- Every £10,000 spent on community facilities prevents £105,000 in riot damage
- One community centre costs £165,000 per year to run but prevents £1.7 million in damage
- The 2011 riots cost £500 million total—money that could have paid for community centres for decades
Many people wrongly blame problems on diverse communities with people from different backgrounds. The research proves this wrong. The real problem is poverty.
Poor areas without community spaces struggle. Diverse areas WITH good facilities actually do better than areas with less diversity. When people from different backgrounds play football together, shop at the same markets, and use the same parks, they become friends. These friendships protect against hatred and violence.
The report uses a clever test: Does infrastructure work on a wet Wednesday night in February? Saturday morning is easy—people have energy and free time. But if 14 people still turn up for football when it’s dark, cold, and rainy after a long day at work, that’s real community strength. This happens when:
- Pitches are free to use
- Lights work
- Changing rooms have hot showers
- You don’t need apps or committees—just turn up
The report recommends:
- Build and protect community spaces – Every neighbourhood needs parks, community centres, and sports facilities within walking distance
- Fund them properly – Pay staff and keep facilities open, don’t just build buildings
- Make them free – Remove barriers like booking fees and complicated systems
- Plan for the long term – Don’t just respond to crises; invest continuously
Download the full report below.