Examining the components required for assessing the sustainability of communities in the UK

The paper considers how to approach the design and development of sustainable communities as an integrated process of assessment and planning in the UK. The characteristics of communities and the market, social, regulatory and political forces by which communities change are reviewed. The strategic management and operational processes are outlined through which, by a combination of corporate governance and professional team-working, the play of stakeholders can be directed. A sustainability assessment framework to support the provision offered-forward and feed-back intelligence into the planning and development processes is set out. The challenge of enhancing the skills of design and development professionals concludes the discussion drawing on the results of a survey of the perspectives of development professionals in the UK.