Sustainable neighbourhoods
A sustainable neighbourhood is a place where people want to live and work, now and in the future. Sustainable neighbourhoods meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services to all. (Bristol Accord, 6-7 December 2005)
With the choice of sustainable housing, basic services and employment & youth, Urban Matters aims to create sustainable neighbourhoods that are:
- Active, inclusive and safe – Fair, tolerant and cohesive with a strong local culture and other shared community activities
- Well run – with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership
- Well connected – with good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services
- Well served – with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to people’s needs and accessible to all
- Environmentally sensitive – providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment
- Thriving – with a flourishing, diverse and innovative local economy
- Well designed and built – featuring quality built and natural environment
- Fair for everyone – including those in other communities, now and in the future
Both the definition of a sustainable neighbourhood and the characteristics have been taken from UK Presidency: EU Ministerial Informal on Sustainable Communities, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, London 2006.