SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

What is a Sustainable Community?

Sustainable development is one of the important thing that we should care. This is because we must make sure everything we do in our life is right and to make sure that we are sustain for the future generation. Based on the Egan Review in publication of  Skills for Sustainable Communities, "Sustainable communities meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, their children and other users, contribute to a high quality of life and provide opportunity and choice. They achieve this in ways that make effective use of natural resources, enhance the environment, promote social cohesion and inclusion and strengthen economic prosperity". From the other perspective, sustainable communities are communities planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living. This may include sustainability aspects relating to social and cultural, governance, transport and connectivity, services, environment, inclusive, housing and the built environment and also economy.

Components of Sustainable Communities 

by North East Lincolnshire

Sustainable communities are diverse, reflecting their local circumstances. There is no standard template to fit them all. But they should be:

1.     Active, inclusive and safe – fair, tolerant and cohesive with a strong local culture and   other shared community activities

Sustainable communities offer:

• a sense of community identity and belonging
• tolerance, respect and engagement with people from different cultures, background and beliefs
• friendly, co-operative and helpful behaviour in neighbourhoods
• opportunities for cultural, leisure, community, sport and other activities, including for children and young people
• low levels of crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour with visible, effective and community-friendly policing
• social inclusion and good life chances for all

2.     Well run – with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership

Sustainable communities enjoy:

• representative, accountable governance systems which both facilitate strategic, visionary leadership and enable inclusive, active and effective participation by individuals and organisations
• effective engagement with the community at neighbourhood level, including capacity building to develop the community’s skills, knowledge and confidence
• strong, informed and effective partnerships that lead by example (e.g. government, business, community)
• a strong, inclusive, community and voluntary sector
• a sense of civic values, responsibility and pride

3.     Environmentally sensitive – providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment

Sustainable communities:

• actively seek to minimise climate change, including through energy efficiency and the use of renewable
• Protect the environment, by minimising pollution on land, in water and in the air.
• minimise waste and dispose of it in accordance with current good practice
• make efficient use of natural resources, encouraging sustainable production and consumption
• protect and improve bio-diversity (e.g. wildlife habitats)
• enable a lifestyle that minimises negative environmental impact and enhances positive impacts (e.g. by creating opportunities for walking and cycling, and reducing noise pollution and dependence on cars)
• create cleaner, safer and greener neighbourhoods (e.g. by reducing litter and graffiti, and maintaining pleasant public spaces)

4.     Well designed and built – featuring a quality built and natural environment

Sustainable communities offer:

• a sense of place (e.g. a place with a positive ‘feeling’ for people and local distinctiveness)
• user-friendly public and green spaces with facilities for everyone including children and older people
• sufficient range, diversity, affordability and accessibility of housing within a balanced housing market
• appropriate size, scale, density, design and layout, including mixed-use development, that complement the distinctive local character of the community and that use modern low cost building methods
• high quality, mixed-use, durable, flexible and adaptable buildings, using materials which minimise negative environmental impacts
• buildings and public spaces which promote health and are designed to reduce crime and make people feel safe
• accessibility of jobs, key services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling

5.     Well connected – with good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services

Sustainable communities offer:

• transport facilities, including public transport, that help people travel within and between communities and reduce dependence on cars
• facilities to encourage safe local walking and cycling
• an appropriate level of local parking facilities in line with local plans to manage road traffic demand
• widely available and effective telecommunications and Internet access good access to regional, national and international communications networks

6.     Thriving – with a flourishing and diverse local economy

Sustainable communities feature:

• a wide range of jobs and training opportunities
• sufficient suitable land and buildings to support economic prosperity and change
• dynamic job and business creation, with benefits for the local community
• a strong business community with links into the wider economy economically viable and attractive town centres

7.     Well served – with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to people's needs and accessible to all

Sustainable communities have:

• well-performing local schools, further and higher education institutions, and other opportunities for life-long learning
• high quality local health care and social services, integrated where possible with other services
• high quality services for families and children (including early years child care)
• a good range of affordable public, community, voluntary and private services (e.g. retail, fresh food, commercial, utilities, information and advice) which are accessible to the whole community
• service providers who think and act long term and beyond their own immediate geographical and interest boundaries, and who involve users and local residents in shaping their policy and practice

8.     Fair for everyone – including those in other communities, now and in the future.

Sustainable communities:

                      

• recognise individuals’ rights and responsibilities
• respect the rights and aspirations of others (both neighbouring communities, and across the wider world) also to be sustainable
• have due regard for the needs of future generations in current decisions and actions

S

sources: Sustainable Communities; People, Places and Prosperity (2005)