Influences Upon Sustainability
The purpose of this guidance is to help deliver high-quality sustainable development which integrates innovation in design. It establishes a methodology for the process which identifies appropriate development densities, how places are designed and how they should respond to community needs. These requirements are set out in a series of development criteria:
- Spatial criteria
- Building and site criteria
- Community criteria
| Development Criteria | Sustainability objectives |
|---|---|
| Spatial Criteria | Walkable neighbourhoods and good access to public transport |
| Resource efficiency in use of land density | |
| Improving local services and job opportunities | |
| Mixed-use development | |
| Buildings and site criteria | Minimising waste |
| Reducing pollution | |
| Sustainable construction, sustainable drainage and energy efficiency | |
| Water conservation | |
| Conserving and enhancing biodiversity | |
| Smart infrastructure and connectivity | |
| Community criteria | Mixed communities |
| Social cohesion | |
| Neighbourly urban design | |
| Safe public places |
Page updated: 23/10/2025