Social access is a concept of the delivery of public services, facilities and amenities to intended user groups.
Often a city has large sources of raw water, adequate purification facilities, and extensive trunk infrastructure bringing potable water into wards of the urban area, but appropriate user-end infrastructure like public taps, restrooms, and bathing places do not exist.
The smallest residential plot allowed by urban planning standards may be too expensive, when priced by current market rates, for intended low income users to purchase.
Social restrictions may act as barriers to ethnic groups, genders and minority communities.
Social access is a concern to poverty alleviation and enhancing the living conditions of the urban poor.