What makes a sustainable community?

At the heart of any longer-term planning - whether Local Plans or neighbourhood plans or unofficial planning for the future - is the notion of the 'sustainable community':
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It's a tricky notion - which doesn't always work:
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This piece is from the previous Labour government - and whilst there were all sorts of (unfulfilled) promises made, there is an interesting definition of what makes a 'sustainable community':

What makes a sustainable community? 

Some of the key requirements of sustainable communities are: 

© A flourishing local economy to provide jobs and wealth; 
© Strong leadership to respond positively to change; 
© Effective engagement and participation by local people, groups and businesses, especially in the planning, design and longterm stewardship of their community, and an active voluntary and community sector; 
© A safe and healthy local environment with well-designed public and green space; 
© Sufficient size, scale and density, and the right layout to support basic amenities in the neighbourhood and minimise use of resources (including land); 
© Good public transport and other transport infrastructure both within the community and linking it to urban, rural and regional centres; 
© Buildings – both individually and collectively – that can meet different needs over time, and that minimise the use of resources; 
© A well-integrated mix of decent homes of different types and tenures to support a range of household sizes, ages and incomes; 
© Good quality local public services, including education and training opportunities, health care and community facilities, especially for leisure; 
© A diverse, vibrant and creative local culture, encouraging pride in the community and cohesion within it; 
© A ”sense of place“; 
© The right links with the wider regional, national and international community

Sustainable communities:building for the future

See also:
Futures Forum: What makes an eco-town?
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