Neighbourhoods

Neighbourhoods are a key scale at which we can develop effective and efficient responses to the climate change challenge - whilst simultaneously creating successful, sustainable communities and places to live and work.

At this local scale, it’s possible to bring together planning, design and management holistically to achieve a step change, for example through the integration of resource management, transport and green infrastructure strategies.

As CABE’s work has shown, the location and scale of homes, shops and businesses, the provision of community infrastructure such as schools, healthcare buildings, libraries and leisure centres, the availability of safe, well-maintained green spaces for play and relaxation - all contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of a neighbourhood.

In new developments and redevelopment opportunities, sustainable masterplanning is key to bringing about appropriate change in the most effective and efficient way. Masterplans can be part of the planning policy framework - as Area Action plans or as Supplementary Planning Documents.

Embedding climate change considerations within these frameworks enables masterplans to contribute to the future resilience of a neighbourhood - and its capacity to contribute to our low-carbon future.

At present, such masterplans are rare and tend to focus on climate change mitigation – it’s essential that adaptation measures are also included.

Here are some of the ways local authorities can plan for low carbon resilient and sustainable neighbourhoods:

• Area Action Plans
• Masterplans adopted as Supplementary Planning Documents
• Designation of low carbon neighbourhoods
• Development of area-based refurbishment programmes

More on the neighbourhood scale

Advice for neighbourhoods

Advice for sustainable design and management at the neighbourhood scale.

Examples for neighbourhoods

Examples of sustainable design and management at the neighbourhood scale.