Re-appraising 'in-process' benefits of strategic infrastructure improvements: Capturing the unexpected socio-economic impacts for lagging regions.

The paper explores the scope of transportation infrastructure appraisal approaches for capturing in-process (during design/development and construction) socio-economic impacts. In-process socio-economic impacts are explored through the case of a major road infrastructure improvement programme in South Wales, United Kingdom. The study posits that monitoring in-process benefits can provide a more holistic understanding of impacts to better inform appraisal approaches, addressing concerns over existing appraisal transparency and accountability. Advancing monitoring and appraisal in this way means that more unexpected socio-economic outcomes for regional economies can be understood. These impacts are illustrated through the labour market, skills and wider supply side legacy benefits resulting from direct project activity. The paper reveals the potential outcomes of capturing these in-process socio-economic benefits when supporting local economies in lagging regions. • Infrastructure construction (in-process) development benefits are often overlooked. • In-process outcomes contribute to longer-term regional development gains. • Monitoring allows labour market gains and supply side legacies to be advanced. • In process socio-economic outcomes are valuable for lagging regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]