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What makes a community sustainable?

Sustainable communities should be:

  • 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.
  • Environmentally sensitive - providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment.
  • Well designed and built - featuring a quality built and natural environment.
  • Well connected - with good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services.
  • Thriving - with a flourishing and diverse local economy.
  • Well served - with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to people's needs and accessible to all.
  • Fair for everyone - including those in other communities, now and in the future

Updated: 8 August 2006